Camilla Jessen
U.S. tests ‘Dark Eagle’ hypersonic missile capable of striking anywhere on Earth within minutes.
The U.S. Department of Defense has carried out a classified test of its long-range hypersonic missile, known as Dark Eagle, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
According to multiple sources including Interesting Engineering and Yahoo News, the test was conducted Friday at Launch Complex 46 and is one of the few military warhead launches from the Cape since 1988.
The launch was not announced in advance, although a navigational safety warning issued by the U.S. Coast Guard suggested a hypersonic test flight was scheduled, with a safety zone extending into the Atlantic Ocean.
The test is part of a broader U.S. military effort to rapidly develop hypersonic technologies in response to similar programs underway in China and Russia.
A Weapon Designed for Speed and Surprise
The Dark Eagle hypersonic missile, developed jointly for the U.S. Army and Navy, is designed to travel at speeds of over 6,000 km/h (Mach 5) and has an estimated range of 2,775 kilometers.
The Army’s version is truck-launched, capable of reaching near-space altitudes and maneuvering beyond the reach of traditional air and missile defense systems before striking its target.
“This ground-based, truck-launched system is armed with hypersonic missiles that can travel at speeds of over 6,000 kilometers per hour,” the U.S. Army stated in a recent social media post.
They can reach the Earth’s upper atmosphere and remain out of range of air and missile defense systems until they are ready to strike—at which point it is too late to react.
A spokesperson for the Department of Defense confirmed the test took place, but provided no further operational details.
“A joint team of government, academic, and industry partners conducted a test on behalf of the Department of Defense,” the statement said. “We are currently evaluating the test results.”
Expanding Hypersonic Arsenal
This was the second reported launch of the Dark Eagle system from Cape Canaveral, following a previous test in December 2024.
The first fully operational Dark Eagle unit is now expected to enter service in fiscal year 2025, two years later than originally planned.
Each Army unit will consist of four launchers, each capable of carrying eight missiles. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy is developing a Conventional Prompt Strike variant of the hypersonic system, designed for deployment aboard destroyers and submarines.
“Hypersonic weapons will complicate adversaries’ decision-making calculations, strengthening deterrence,” said Patrick Mason, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology. “Their speed, precision, and versatility are worthy of the new popular name—Dark Eagle.”