Successful Test of Dark Eagle Hypersonic Missile: At Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the U.S. Army’s Dark Eagle hypersonic missile successfully finished a test, reaching speeds higher than Mach 5. After several years of delays mostly caused by launcher problems, this is a major turning point in the development of hypersonic technology.
The Dark Eagle, sometimes referred to as the vast Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), is made to hit targets with extreme precision at vast distances. Because of its hypersonic maneuverability, the missile is difficult for adversary defenses to intercept. The U.S. Navy intends to equip Block V Virginia-class submarines and Zumwalt-class destroyers with this technology.
This development coincides with heightened competition from China and Russia, both of whom have advanced their own hypersonic missile programs significantly. The emphasis on hypersonic weapons by the US military is a component of a larger plan to improve deterrence capabilities against these enemies.
The system is expected to be combat-ready by 2025, and the successful test is viewed as a prelude to operational deployment. The U.S. military stresses that more testing is necessary to guarantee the Dark Eagle’s safety and efficacy in practical situations.
The Battery Operations Centre (BOC) and the Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL), two essential parts for the weapon’s land-based deployment, were used for the first time in a live fire test.
