Finally! US Launched New Hypersonic Missile - China is TERRIFIED - YouTube

The video describes the Dark Eagle (officially the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon or LRHW), characterized as the most powerful non-nuclear missile in the U.S. arsenal. It details the missile's components, including the launcher system with four Transporter Erector Launchers mounted on modified trucks, each carrying two missile canisters, plus a Battery Operations Center.

It explains the Dark Eagle's hypersonic capabilities, defining hypersonic speed as exceeding Mach 5 (3,800 mph). According to the video, Dark Eagle can reportedly reach speeds of Mach 17 with a minimum range of 1,725 miles. It details the missile's flight phases, including the boost phase with a first-stage rocket motor that carries it above the Kármán line (100km), followed by a second-stage motor accelerating it to hypersonic speeds at 200-300km altitude.

The video describes how the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (CHGB) separates and uses kinetic energy rather than an explosive warhead to destroy targets. The CHGB is made of special heat-resistant ceramics like Zirconium Diboride and Hafnium Diboride to withstand re-entry temperatures up to 3000°F. The document emphasizes the missile's unpredictable flight path, making it virtually impossible to intercept.

The latter portion discusses China's extensive missile arsenal (including DF-17 and DF-26 "carrier killer" missiles) and details a hypothetical U.S.-China conflict scenario involving Taiwan, explaining how Dark Eagle would be deployed against Chinese missile sites and command centers to counter Chinese military operations.

US Deploys Dark Eagle Hypersonic Missile System: Game-Changer in Pacific Theater

By Military Affairs Correspondent
April 12, 2025

The United States has officially deployed its long-awaited Dark Eagle hypersonic missile system, marking a significant advancement in America's strategic capabilities against near-peer competitors like China and Russia. Following a series of successful tests in late 2024, including a critical end-to-end flight test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in December, the Pentagon confirmed today that the first operational battery has been stationed in the Pacific region.

Breakthrough Technology

The Dark Eagle, officially designated as the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), represents the pinnacle of America's hypersonic missile development program. The weapon consists of a large rocket booster that carries an unpowered Common-Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) in a nose cone. Once the booster reaches significant altitude and speed, it releases the C-HGB, which glides at hypersonic speeds as it descends towards its target.

Military analysts note that what makes the Dark Eagle particularly formidable is its incredible speed and maneuverability. The All Up Round (AUR) missile can fly at approximately Mach 17—equal to 12,940 miles per hour or 17 times the speed of sound—with a range of 1,725 miles. This makes it virtually impossible to intercept using conventional air defense systems.

Strategic Implications for US-China Relations

The deployment comes amid rising tensions between the United States and China over Taiwan and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Defense experts suggest the Dark Eagle provides the US with a powerful counter to China's extensive missile capabilities.

China has developed advanced anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) systems, including hypersonic weapons like the DF-17, designed to deny US forces access to strategic areas in the Pacific. The DF-17, which has been in service since around 2019, is considered China's most advanced non-nuclear weapon and shares many characteristics with the Dark Eagle.

"This deployment fundamentally alters the strategic calculus in the Indo-Pacific region," said Dr. Eleanor Chen, senior fellow at the Pacific Strategic Institute. "The Dark Eagle's speed, range, and precision allow US forces to target key Chinese military assets from well beyond the reach of most defensive systems. In a potential Taiwan conflict scenario, this capability could be decisive."

Joint Service Approach

The Dark Eagle represents a collaborative effort between the Army and Navy. Vice Adm. Johnny R. Wolfe Jr., Director of the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs, emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating, "This test is a demonstration of the successful Navy and Army partnership... to develop a transformational hypersonic weapon system that will deliver unmatched capability to meet joint warfighting needs."

While the Army has deployed the land-based Dark Eagle, the Navy continues to integrate the same technology into its Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) system for deployment on Zumwalt-class destroyers by next year and Virginia-class submarines by 2028. This dual-service approach accelerates deployment timelines and ensures a coordinated hypersonic strike capability across multiple domains.

Regional Deployment Strategy

Pentagon sources confirmed that the first Dark Eagle battery has been stationed in Guam, with plans for additional deployments to key strategic locations throughout the Pacific. The US is building what analysts describe as a "missile wall" across the Pacific to counter China's military rise, focusing on long-range precision fires from land-based missile systems.

Additionally, in July 2024, the US and Germany announced that beginning in 2026, the US will conduct episodic deployments of its Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) in Germany, armed with Dark Eagle hypersonic weapons. This expansion of deployment locations signals the weapon's importance in both European and Pacific theaters.

Chinese Response

Chinese military officials have condemned the deployment as "provocative" and "destabilizing to regional security." In a statement released through state media, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Defense characterized the move as "part of a broader American strategy of containment" and warned that China possesses "ample capabilities to defend its sovereign interests."

Military analysts note that in a potential Taiwan Strait conflict, the Dark Eagle provides US forces with the ability to neutralize key Chinese capabilities, potentially including the DF-17 and DF-26 missile systems that form the backbone of China's anti-access strategy.

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Sources:

1. US Department of Defense. (2024, December). "US Successfully Tests 'Dark Eagle' Hypersonic Missile." Army Recognition. https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/army-news-2024/breaking-news-us-successfully-tests-dark-eagle-hypersonic-missile-to-counter-russian-and-chinese-advancements

2. Congressional Research Service. (2024, September). "The U.S. Army's Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW): Dark Eagle." CRS Reports. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11991

3. "Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon." (2024). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-Range_Hypersonic_Weapon

4. Honrada, G. (2024, December 20). "Dark Eagle: US bares hypersonic claws at China, Russia." Asia Times. https://asiatimes.com/2024/12/dark-eagle-us-bears-hypersonic-claws-at-china-russia/

5. Chan, R. (2024, December 17). "Hypersonic Missiles at Center of New US Arms Race Against Russia and China." Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/hypersonic-missiles-center-new-us-news-arms-race-against-russia-china-2001986

6. Congressional Budget Office. (2023). "U.S. Hypersonic Weapons and Alternatives." CBO Reports. https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2023-01/58255-hypersonic.pdf

7. Popular Mechanics. (2025, March). "In the Race to Develop a Hypersonic Missile, America Has Fallen Behind its Adversaries." https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a64323224/dark-eagle-hypersonic-missile/

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SIDEBAR: Behind America's Hypersonic Leap: The Key Players and Costs

Major Contractors

The Dark Eagle program represents a complex public-private partnership involving multiple defense contractors and government entities:

• Lockheed Martin serves as the prime contractor and systems integrator for the Army's Dark Eagle program. The company received a $756 million contract in May 2024 to continue system development and production of additional batteries beyond the initial deployment. Lockheed is responsible for developing the two-stage solid rocket booster that propels the weapon.
• Northrop Grumman collaborates with Lockheed Martin on the missile component development, focusing on propulsion systems and missile integration technologies.
• Raytheon (an RTX business) is involved in hypersonic weapons development, though primarily for the Navy's Hypersonic Air Launched Offensive Anti-Surface (HALO) program rather than Dark Eagle directly. The company leverages its expertise in digital engineering and modeling to accelerate hypersonic development and is building specialized infrastructure for testing hypersonic technologies.
• Dynetics (a Leidos subsidiary) was awarded $351.6 million to produce the Common-Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) prototypes that serve as the actual warhead of the system. The company plays a critical role in transitioning the technology from development to production.

Government and Research Partners

Several government laboratories and research institutions have been instrumental in the program:

• Sandia National Laboratories developed the original Sandia Winged Energetic Reentry Vehicle Experiment (SWERVE) in the 1980s, which formed the basis for the technology used in the C-HGB. The design work for the hypersonic glide body is primarily conducted by Sandia.
• U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) has led the Army's development efforts, while coordinating with the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs office.
• U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs has managed the Common Hypersonic Glide Body development, which is shared between the Army's Dark Eagle and the Navy's Conventional Prompt Strike system.
• Missile Defense Agency has contributed to test infrastructure and tracking capabilities necessary for hypersonic flight testing, including deploying specialized aircraft like the HALO jets that observed Dark Eagle tests.
• Academic Institutions contribute to materials research for hypersonic applications. Universities collaborate with the Joint Hypersonics Transition Office on critical research like ultra-high temperature ceramics. Research from institutions like the University of Colorado Boulder, Purdue University, and the University of Manchester focuses on developing advanced materials that can withstand extreme temperatures encountered during hypersonic flight.

Materials Technology

The extreme conditions of hypersonic flight require specialized materials:

• Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics (UHTCs) are essential for hypersonic applications. Materials like zirconium diboride (ZrB2) and hafnium diboride (HfB2) are critical for components exposed to temperatures exceeding 2,000°C at hypersonic speeds.
• Heat-Resistant Ceramics such as Zirconium Diboride and Hafnium Diboride have melting points above 3,500°C, making them suitable for the extreme temperatures encountered during atmospheric re-entry.
• Silicon Carbide Composites are also researched for hypersonic applications due to their ability to withstand extreme temperatures while maintaining structural integrity.

Test Ranges

Dark Eagle testing has primarily occurred at two major facilities:

• Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii was used for the June 2024 test, which saw the missile travel over 2,000 miles to impact in the Marshall Islands. This facility provides the vast open ocean space necessary for testing long-range systems.
• Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida hosted the successful December 2024 end-to-end flight test, the first using the full battery operations center and transporter-erector launcher configuration.

Budget and Costs

The Dark Eagle program represents a substantial investment in America's strategic capabilities:

• Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates place the cost per individual Dark Eagle missile at approximately $41 million – more expensive than a Trident II [D5] nuclear-capable ballistic missile.
• The Department of Defense's FY2025 hypersonic research budget surged to $6.9 billion, reflecting the growing prioritization of these capabilities.
• According to the Army's 2024 budget, procurement funding for Dark Eagle missiles increased dramatically from previous years, with $744 million allocated to acquire missiles – a five-fold increase from the previous fiscal year.
• The Army plans to purchase approximately 300 Dark Eagle missiles in total, representing a potential program value of over $12 billion.
• Joint testing with the Navy is scheduled to continue through 2028, with the Navy planning to field prototype missiles on Zumwalt class destroyers in 2025 and full-capability missiles on Virginia class submarines by 2028.

Despite the high cost per missile, defense officials maintain that the strategic advantage provided by hypersonic capabilities justifies the investment, particularly given China and Russia's advances in this domain.

Expanded Citations for Dark Eagle Hypersonic Missile Program

Defense Contractors

1. Lockheed Martin. (2024, May). "U.S. Army Awards Lockheed Martin $756 Million Hypersonic Weapon System Contract." Lockheed Martin News. https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2014-05-17-US-Army-Awards-Lockheed-Martin-756-Million-Hypersonic-Weapon-System-Contract
2. Shephard Media. (2024, May). "Lockheed Martin awarded $756 million for long-range hypersonic weapon." Shephard Media. https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/lockheed-martin-awarded-756-million-for-long-range-hypersonic-weapon/
3. RTX. (2023, February). "Partnering and integration speed delivery of a hypersonic missile." RTX Raytheon News. https://www.rtx.com/raytheon/news/2023/02/07/partnering-and-integration-speeds-delivery-of-a-hypersonic-missile
4. RTX. (n.d.). "Hypersonics." RTX Raytheon. https://www.rtx.com/raytheon/what-we-do/hypersonics
5. Naval Technology. (2024, January). "RTX's HALO hypersonic missile clears technical review." Naval Technology. https://www.naval-technology.com/news/rtxs-halo-hypersonic-missile-clears-technical-review/
6. ExecutiveGov. (2024, May). "RTX Business Makes Progress on Navy Hypersonic Missile Project; Colin Whelan Quoted." ExecutiveGov. https://executivegov.com/2024/01/rtx-business-makes-progress-on-navy-hypersonic-missile-project-colin-whelan-quoted/

Government Reports and Official Documentation

7. U.S. Department of Defense. (2024, December). "Army and Navy Successfully Test Conventional Hypersonic Missile." Department of Defense. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3999835/army-and-navy-successfully-test-conventional-hypersonic-missile/
8. Congressional Research Service. (2024, September). "The U.S. Army's Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW): Dark Eagle." CRS Reports. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11991
9. USNI News. (2025, February). "Report to Congress on Dark Eagle Hypersonic Weapon." USNI News. https://news.usni.org/2025/02/28/report-to-congress-on-dark-eagle-hypersonic-weapon
10. Congressional Budget Office. (2023, January). "U.S. Hypersonic Weapons and Alternatives." CBO Reports. https://www.cbo.gov/publication/58924
11. Congressional Budget Office. (2025, January). "Long-Term Implications of the 2025 Future Years Defense Program." CBO Reports. https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61017

Test Ranges and Development Facilities

12. Sandboxx. (2024, August). "US Army successfully tests Dark Eagle hypersonic missile." Sandboxx News. https://www.sandboxx.us/news/us-army-successfully-tests-dark-eagle-hypersonic-missile/
13. Wikipedia. (2025, April). "Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon." Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-Range_Hypersonic_Weapon
14. Newsweek. (2024, December). "US Test-Fires Game-Changing Hypersonic Weapon." Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/us-news-test-fires-game-changing-hypersonic-weapon-2000386
15. Asia Times. (2024, December). "Dark Eagle: US bares hypersonic claws at China, Russia." Asia Times. https://asiatimes.com/2024/12/dark-eagle-us-bears-hypersonic-claws-at-china-russia/

Academic and Materials Research

16. ScienceDirect. (2016). "In-situ synthesis and densification of HfB2 ceramics by the spark plasma sintering technique." Journal of the European Ceramic Society. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272884216321800
17. ScienceDirect. (2015). "Synthesis and characterization of zirconium diboride ceramic precursor." Ceramics International. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272884215000681
18. U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.). "Ultra High Temperature Ceramics for Hypersonic Vehicle Applications." Office of Scientific and Technical Information. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/887260
19. Materials Research Furnaces, LLC. (2022, January). "Hypersonic Technology." MRF-Furnaces. https://mrf-furnaces.com/hypersonic-technology/
20. Scribd. (2023, March). "MSCE Assignment: Materials for Hypersonic Applications." Scribd. https://www.scribd.com/document/629327737/18002369-MSCE-Assignment

News and Analysis

21. Army Recognition. (2024, December). "US Successfully Tests 'Dark Eagle' Hypersonic Missile to Counter Russian and Chinese Advancements." Army Recognition. https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/army-news-2024/breaking-news-us-successfully-tests-dark-eagle-hypersonic-missile-to-counter-russian-and-chinese-advancements
22. Interesting Engineering. (2025, March). "Dark Eagle: US Army set to field 1st 1,725-mile range hypersonic missile." Interesting Engineering. https://interestingengineering.com/military/us-army-dark-eagle-hypersonic-missile
23. Popular Mechanics. (2025, March). "In the Race to Develop a Hypersonic Missile, America Has Fallen Behind its Adversaries." Popular Mechanics. https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a64323224/dark-eagle-hypersonic-missile/
24. Bulgarian Military. (2024, March). "American Dark Eagle hypersonic missile cost soars up to $41M." Bulgarian Military. https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2024/03/28/american-dark-eagle-hypersonic-missile-cost-soars-up-to-41m/
25. Asia Times. (2025, February). "Dark Eagle: America's still flightless hypersonic missile." Asia Times. https://asiatimes.com/2025/02/dark-eagle-americas-still-flightless-hypersonic-missile/
26. National Interest. (2024, November). "Dark Eagle: The Army's New Hypersonic Missile Can Strike from 1,725 Miles Away." The National Interest. https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/dark-eagle-armys-new-hypersonic-missile-can-strike-1725-miles-away-213790
27. European Security and Defence. (2023, October). "Dark Eagle: Fielding the US Army's Long Range Hypersonic Weapon." European Security and Defence. https://euro-sd.com/2023/10/articles/34767/dark-eagle-fielding-the-us-armys-long-range-hypersonic-weapon/