U.S. Army Officially Names Hypersonic Weapon System ‘Dark Eagle’
The U.S. Army has officially designated its Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) as “Dark Eagle”, following a successful flight test conducted last December.
Patrick Mason, a senior official serving as the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, stated that “hypersonic weapons will complicate adversaries’ decision-making, thereby strengthening deterrence.” He added, “Their speed, precision, and versatility make the name ‘Dark Eagle’ a fitting reflection of their capabilities.”
The Dark Eagle program is a joint initiative between the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) and the Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs (SSP). Both services are collaborating to rapidly deploy land- and sea-based variants of a hypersonic weapon system designed to meet critical joint combat needs. The use of a common missile, known as the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB), along with shared testing opportunities, allows the services to accelerate delivery timelines and reduce costs.
The name pays tribute to the eagle, a bird of prey known for its speed, stealth, and agility—traits aligned with the LRHW’s core features of speed, precision, maneuverability, survivability, and versatility.
The word “Dark” signifies the system’s ability to neutralize adversary capabilities, including anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) systems, communications infrastructure, long-range strike assets, and other high-value or time-sensitive targets.
Hypersonic weapons, which can travel at speeds greater than Mach 5 while maneuvering in flight, represent a next-generation capability aimed at outpacing conventional air defenses and providing rapid strike options against strategic targets. The development of Dark Eagle is part of the broader U.S. effort to modernize its arsenal in response to similar advancements by other global powers.
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