As confirmed by U.S. Army officials to local media, the institution is close to bringing into service the new “Dark Eagle” hypersonic missile system, which was developed with investments exceeding 12 billion dollars. In particular, the official responsible for these statements was Lieutenant General Frank Lozano, head of the Army’s missile programs, who during a conference detailed that it is expected that the details will be unveiled in a few weeks.
Quoting some of his own words on the matter: “We are so close to having that first battery fully equipped with all its capabilities that I don’t want to spoil the surprise when the moment comes, but we are just a few weeks away.” In addition, Lieutenant General Lozano added that the U.S. Army has been working with the company Lockheed Martin to increase the number of missiles produced ahead of that milestone, noting, however, that it is a complex manufacturing process that even requires work done by hand.
On the other hand, it should be noted that the deployment of the hypersonic missile system in question would take place even in the face of Pentagon reports that question its lethality, which the Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) had already begun to warn about since 2024. These reports have continued even up to recent dates, where it was indicated that the “Dark Eagle” system had not provided sufficient data to confirm its effectiveness in the field; something that could only be achieved within approximately one year.
It is worth recalling at this point, even while the Pentagon reaffirms its doubts about the system, that the U.S. Army has already been deploying its Dark Eagle systems in different military exercises. In recent dates, a series of photographs were even accidentally revealed on the DVIDS platform showing a launcher in a forested location that was not confirmed, leading to their rapid viralization due to the scarce photographic material available so far. Further back in time, specifically during last January, the force activated a new unit equipped with the system, namely Bravo Battery of the 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, which is part of the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force.
Moreover, as we reported during August 2025, the new hypersonic missile systems were sent to Australia to integrate into the Talisman Sabre 25 exercises as part of the aforementioned 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force. Beyond demonstrating its own characteristics, the U.S. Army also presented it as a demonstration of its capability to carry out rapid long-distance deployment and as a signal of its commitment to the defense of the host country.
Finally, briefly reviewing its currently known characteristics, it can be mentioned that the Dark Eagle systems that the force will soon present consist of a hypersonic missile launch system capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 5 and targets located at distances of up to 2,776 kilometers. In addition, with the aim of making interception by enemy defenses more difficult, the missiles have been designed to carry out their trajectory in an erratic manner after having reached optimal speed and altitude thanks to the two-stage booster rocket that propels the All-Up-Round (AUR).
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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