U.S. to Deploy Dark Eagle Hypersonic Missile System in 2025

The U.S. Army plans to deploy its first battery of the Dark Eagle long-range hypersonic weapon (LRHW) system in 2025, Defense News reports.

The system will be assigned to the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, which has been training with it for an extended period.

Originally slated for deployment in 2023, the rollout was delayed due to issues with the missile launch system.

The Dark Eagle system is expected to be stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.

The first live-fire test of the missile system took place in December 2024, with a missile launched from a trailer-mounted system equipped with a transport-launch container.

According to Lockheed Martin, the Dark Eagle missile can travel up to 3,000 km at a speed of Mach 4.9.

The system is part of the U.S. hypersonic weapons strategy, which was expanded following the country’s withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2020.

The U.S. is also evaluating the Hypersonic Boost-Glide system, a similar platform estimated to cost $41 million per missile.

The Army plans to purchase a total of 300 hypersonic strike missiles, with Congress set to receive detailed procurement plans.

Militarnyi previously reported that Lockheed Martin has adapted the Mako hypersonic missile to integrate with most U.S. fighter jets, including the F-22 and F-35.

The missile, measuring 3.6 meters in length and 33 cm in diameter, weighs approximately 590 kg. The F-35 can carry up to six Mako missiles using both internal and external hardpoints.