Exclusive: U.S. Army to Field Second Dark Eagle Hypersonic Missile Battery in Fiscal Year 2026.

According to information published by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) in June 2025, the U.S. Army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) program, known as Dark Eagle, is progressing steadily toward operational expansion. Officials confirmed that the second battery of this advanced system is on schedule for fielding in the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2026, in alignment with the Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) strategy designed to accelerate the delivery of key battlefield capabilities.
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U.S. Army soldiers from Bravo Battery, 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, part of the Long Range Fires Battalion under the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force, operate a Long Range Hypersonic Weapon Transporter Erector Launcher during a live demonstration at Exercise Bamboo Eagle 24-3 held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, on August 2, 2024. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

The LRHW (Long Range Hypersonic Weapon) Dark Eagle missile system comprises a ground-launched missile paired with a hypersonic glide body, mounted on mobile transporter platforms, and includes the necessary command, fire control, and logistical support components. With a reported range of approximately 1,725 miles (2,776 kilometers) and a velocity exceeding 3,800 miles per hour (6,115 kilometers per hour), Dark Eagle missiles are engineered to ascend to the edge of the Earth's atmosphere and remain beyond reach of conventional air and missile defenses. This allows them to strike with minimal warning, ensuring an almost unavoidable impact on high-value enemy targets.

A hypersonic missile is defined by its ability to travel at speeds greater than Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, which follow a fixed arc, hypersonic systems can maneuver unpredictably, complicating detection and interception efforts. Within this class, the hypersonic glide body (HGB) represents a unique form of payload delivery. The glide body is carried atop a rocket booster to the upper atmosphere, where it detaches and glides at hypersonic speeds along a low-altitude, maneuverable trajectory toward its target. This enables it to evade radar tracking, fly below missile defense intercept windows, and strike with both speed and precision. The maneuverability and speed of the HGB drastically reduce enemy response time and make interception exceedingly difficult, giving the launching force a substantial strategic and tactical advantage.

The U.S. Army designed the LRHW to revolutionize its long-range precision fires doctrine, filling a critical capability gap between tactical missiles like ATACMS and long-range strategic systems. It enables precision engagement of time-sensitive or hardened targets deep inside contested zones, including enemy air defense sites, command and control nodes, ballistic missile launchers, logistical hubs, and even mobile assets before they can be repositioned. The weapon's combination of speed, range, and unpredictability makes it ideal for suppressing Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) environments and opening corridors for follow-on joint force operations.

Tactically, the LRHW Dark Eagle provides U.S. Army theater commanders with a rapid-response, first-strike option that can neutralize threats before they escalate into broader engagements. Its road-mobile launchers offer flexibility and survivability, allowing units to deploy, fire, and relocate swiftly to avoid counter-detection. The weapon's high-altitude trajectory and maneuverability in the terminal phase make interception by existing missile defense systems exceedingly difficult. This positions the LRHW as a key asset in both deterrence and high-intensity combat, giving U.S. forces a distinct overmatch capability in peer conflict scenarios.

Development of the missile element is a joint effort between Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. When combined with the glide body, the complete munition is designated as the All-Up Round plus Canister (AUR+C), a system also used in the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program. The shared two-stage booster not only simplifies production but also enables joint-service deployment from ground-based U.S. Army launchers and naval platforms including submarines and surface vessels.

A standard U.S. Army LRHW battery includes four Transporter Erector Launchers (TELs) mounted on modified M870A4 trailers, each carrying two AUR+C munitions, for a total of eight missiles. It is supported by a Battery Operations Center (BOC) and its associated vehicle to provide full battlefield command and control. The first battery, designated to the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment—also referred to as the Long-Range Fires Battalion—was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. This unit forms part of the U.S. Army’s 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF), the Indo-Pacific-focused operational group under I Corps.

As part of its ongoing development and training initiatives, U.S. Army soldiers from Bravo Battery, 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery, showcased the operational capabilities of the LRHW during Exercise Bamboo Eagle 24-3. Conducted at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, on August 2, 2024, this exercise marked a significant moment in the system’s operational validation, offering a live demonstration of the TEL's deployment dynamics and contributing to the doctrinal integration of hypersonic assets within joint operations.

In parallel with these field activities, the U.S. Army has scheduled a flight test of a slightly modified missile configuration for the fourth quarter of FY2025. This trial will be a critical step toward verifying enhancements ahead of broader deployment. However, the GAO report also indicated that acquisition timelines have not been without disruption. Funding constraints led to a delay in the planned award for Battery 3’s ground support equipment, shifting from Q1 FY2024 to Q3 FY2025.

The deployment of the Dark Eagle Long Range Hypersonic Weapon system represents a pivotal transformation in the U.S. Army’s strategic posture. As geopolitical tensions rise and near-peer competitors invest heavily in similar technologies, the LRHW ensures the U.S. Army remains at the forefront of high-speed precision strike capabilities. It provides the joint force with a tool that combines speed, reach, and accuracy to impose costs on adversaries, shape the battlespace, and deter conflict through credible force projection. The Dark Eagle enhances the U.S. Army’s ability to respond rapidly to emerging threats, break through fortified defenses, and operate decisively in multi-domain environments, making it an indispensable asset for future high-intensity warfare.