U.S. Army says Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon could reach distant targets in under 20 minutes as new details emerge on range speed, and mission role globally.
United States Army has revealed new details about its first operational hypersonic missile, saying the weapon could strike targets as far as 2,175 miles away in less than 20 minutes, dramatically expanding America’s conventional long-range strike capabilities.
The disclosures were made during a recent visit by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, a major hub for US missile development and testing. During the visit, Hegseth also announced that Redstone Arsenal will become the new headquarters of US Space Command, underscoring the site’s growing strategic importance.
Senior Army officials briefed Hegseth and accompanying media on the service’s missile portfolio, with particular focus on the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon, known as Dark Eagle. The system is designed to hit high-value, time-sensitive targets at extreme distances while evading modern air and missile defenses.
Dark Eagle is a ground-launched, trailer-mounted weapon that uses a boost-glide vehicle. After launch, a rocket accelerates the glide body to speeds above Mach 5 before it separates and maneuvers through the atmosphere toward its target. Its speed, maneuverability, and low flight path are intended to complicate detection and interception.
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Lt. Gen. Francisco Lozano, the Army’s director for hypersonic and rapid acquisition programs, said the missile has an estimated range of about 3,500 kilometers, or roughly 2,175 miles. According to remarks recorded by C-SPAN, Lozano noted that the weapon could theoretically reach mainland China from Guam, Moscow from Western Europe, or Tehran from the Gulf region.
Those figures exceed earlier public estimates, which placed the missile’s minimum range at about 1,725 miles. Defense officials did not clarify whether the longer range reflects design improvements or previously conservative public disclosures, a common practice for sensitive weapons programs.
Army officers also detailed the missile’s payload, describing a warhead weighing less than 30 pounds. Officials emphasized that Dark Eagle relies primarily on kinetic energy generated by extreme speed, rather than explosive force, to destroy targets. The payload is designed to disperse projectiles over an area comparable to a large parking lot.
Analysts say the system’s ability to reach maximum range in under 20 minutes significantly reduces an adversary’s warning time, making it well suited for rapid strikes against heavily defended or fleeting targets.
Dark Eagle is expected to be the first hypersonic weapon deployed to frontline US forces. A related version is under development for the Navy, using the same missile architecture for launch from ships and submarines.
