Historic departure: the United States for the first time took a hypersonic "cannon" outside its territory

The US Army has taken a high-profile and symbolically important step in its hypersound program. For the first time in its history, it deployed a long-range hypersonic weapon (LRHW) system outside the continental United States. This advanced and so far secret system has been delivered and deployed in the Northern Territory of Australia.

This event took place as part of the Talisman Sabre 25 large—scale joint military exercises, the largest maneuvers between the United States and Australia aimed at developing coherence and strengthening strategic partnership. The 3rd Multidisciplinary Task Force (3MDTF) was responsible for the deployment, a special unit created to quickly deploy advanced systems, including hypersonic weapons, anywhere in the world.

The LRHW's location in Australia is not just a demonstration of technology. This is a historic milestone confirming the system's transition from the development and testing stage to the operational deployment stage. It is also a powerful strategic signal demonstrating the ability of the United States to rapidly deploy and use its most advanced weapons in the Indo-Pacific region, where tensions are rising.

Hypersonic weapons capable of reaching speeds of more than Mach 5 (five times faster than the speed of sound) and maneuvering along a trajectory are extremely difficult to intercept by existing missile defense systems. His appearance in Australia significantly enhances deterrence capabilities and underscores the US commitment to protecting its allies, in particular Australia.

3MDTF's participation in the exercise highlights its key role in the army's new concept of distributed deployment. Instead of large, vulnerable bases, small groups with high-tech weapons can quickly appear at critical points, strike and disappear. The Talisman Sabre 25 exercises are an ideal platform for testing just such scenarios and strengthening regional stability.

The US Army plans to deploy a second Dark Eagle hypersonic missile system in 2026, despite doubts about its effectiveness

LRHW/Dark Eagle

Despite growing doubts from experts and criticism about combat lethality and reliability, the US Army remains committed to its hypersonic weapons program and has announced plans to deploy a second Dark Eagle hypersonic missile system in 2026.

The system, officially known as the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), is part of the Pentagon's strategy to create a new generation of high-speed strike weapons capable of bypassing the most advanced air and missile defense systems. The main element of the LRHW is the Dark Eagle hypersonic missile itself, which can reach speeds of more than Mach 5 (17,000 km/h) and is equipped with an Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) maneuvering warhead.

The first battery was officially put into service in 2023 after a series of successful, albeit limited, tests. However, since then, a number of analysts and specialists have raised questions about the real combat value of the system. In particular:

- Accuracy problems when hitting mobile or low-visibility targets;

- High cost of development and production;

- A limited number of launches for a full reliability assessment;

- The complexity of logistics and integration into existing command structures.

Nevertheless, the US Department of Defense believes that hypersonic technologies are a key element of future strategic parity, especially in light of similar programs by Russia and China, which have already deployed their own hypersonic complexes such as Avangard and DF-17.

The deployment of the second system in 2026 will be an important stage in the process of building operational capabilities, and will also allow additional field tests to be conducted in conditions close to combat. According to Pentagon officials, the goal is not only to strengthen the US position in the hypersonic race, but also to develop tactics for using such systems in multinational coalitions.

In the future, the LRHW/Dark Eagle program may become the basis for creating a flexible and distributed network of hypersonic strike systems compatible with NATO and other allies.

The US Army's Dark Eagle hypersonic weapons program is moving towards expanding operational use

According to a report by the U.S. Accounting Chamber (GAO) published in June 2025, the U.S. Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) program, codenamed Dark Eagle, continues to steadily develop and expand its operational use. The report confirms that the second battery of this advanced system is scheduled for deployment in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026.

The Dark Eagle program is being implemented as part of the Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) strategy, which aims to accelerate the development and delivery of key combat capabilities on the battlefield. This strategy makes it possible to reduce the time required to introduce new technologies and respond promptly to modern security challenges.

The Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon is a long-range system capable of hitting targets at a considerable distance with high speed and accuracy, which significantly increases the combat potential of the US Army. The deployment of the second battery will enhance the ability to respond quickly and effectively in various combat scenarios.

The expansion of the program demonstrates the priority of hypersonic technologies in US defense policy and the desire to maintain technological superiority at the global level. The introduction of such systems will allow the US Army to increase its deterrent potential and provide an operational advantage in the face of growing competition with other world powers.

The U.S. Army plans to conduct its next hypersonic missile test in December

 

The US Army has scheduled another test of its long-range hypersonic Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) missile for December this year. This step is part of a program to develop and implement hypersonic weapons that can reach speeds above 5 sound speeds (Mach 5) and maneuver at various altitudes, making them virtually invulnerable to existing missile defense systems.

The LRHW, also known as the Dark Eagle, is a ground-based missile system equipped with a Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) hypersonic glide unit. In December, an “end-to-end” test is planned, in which the rocket will be launched using a transport and launch vehicle (TEL) and an operational battery center. This will be the second successful AUR (All Up Round) test run this year.

The goal of the program is to integrate hypersonic missiles into the armament of the US Army and the US Navy. The U.S. Navy also plans to use a modification of the C-HGB called Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) for its ships and submarines. If the tests are successful, the US Army expects to begin deploying LRHW units in 2025.

Hypersonic missiles are considered breakthrough technologies in military affairs, as their speed and maneuverability allow them to strike highly protected and time-critical targets with high efficiency. The United States is actively developing and testing hypersonic systems in competition with other world powers such as China and Russia, which have also demonstrated their achievements in this field.