The United States Army has acknowledged that it has missed its deadline to deploy the Dark Eagle hypersonic missile, confirming that the first U.S. ground-based hypersonic weapon will not be fielded until early 2026, despite the operational unit assigned to the system already being trained and ready.
According to a report by Bloomberg, the Army confirmed this week that it failed to meet its end-of-2025 target for fielding the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), also known as Dark Eagle. The program, which began development in 2018, has received more than $12 billion in funding. This marks the third time the Army has missed a deployment deadline, following earlier delays in 2023 and 2024.
In a statement cited by Bloomberg, the Army said that additional time is required to complete final integration and safety procedures. “Fielding activities include the required integration, safety, and readiness steps to ensure soldiers receive a system that is reliable, sustainable, and effective in operational environments and are on track for completion in early 2026,” the statement said. The service added that it remains focused on rigorous testing, training, and system maturity to support successful operational employment.
Dark Eagle is part of a broader $10.4 billion U.S. hypersonic weapons effort and is designed to provide the Army with a long-range, conventional strike capability. The missile uses a boost-glide system, in which a rocket booster accelerates the weapon to hypersonic speeds before releasing a glide vehicle that can maneuver toward its target at extreme velocity. Although launcher units and support vehicles have already been delivered, the missile itself is not yet ready for operational use.
The Army previously missed a September 30, 2023, deployment deadline and failed to meet another target set for September 2025, according to Bloomberg News, which first reported the latest delay. The repeated schedule slippages underscore the technical challenges involved in developing hypersonic weapons, which must operate at speeds exceeding Mach 5 while withstanding intense heat and pressure, all while maintaining accuracy, reliability, and safety.
On December 17, the Army announced that it had activated the first battery assigned to operate the Dark Eagle system, describing the move as a “significant advancement” in U.S. military capabilities. However, Bloomberg reported that the service did not disclose at the time that the missiles themselves were not yet ready for deployment.
Cost concerns also surround the program. Data from the Government Accountability Office estimate that the first Dark Eagle battery will cost approximately $2.7 billion, including missiles. Lockheed Martin serves as the prime contractor for missile development, while the Army is responsible for integration, testing, and fielding.
The delay comes as the Pentagon continues to prioritize hypersonic weapons amid intensifying strategic competition with China and Russia. Both countries have already deployed hypersonic systems, and Russia has reportedly used such weapons in combat during the war in Ukraine. Hypersonic missiles can travel at speeds exceeding 3,800 miles per hour (about 6,120 kilometers per hour) and fly at lower altitudes than traditional ballistic missiles, making them more difficult to detect and intercept using existing air defense systems.
Bloomberg described the absence of a deployed U.S. hypersonic weapon as a concerning capability gap, particularly as potential adversaries continue to advance and operationalize similar technologies. The setback also represents an early challenge for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has publicly emphasized the need to accelerate weapons development and reform what he has criticized as a slow and risk-averse defense acquisition process.
Hegseth visited Huntsville, Alabama, on December 12, where he viewed the Dark Eagle launcher during a tour of Army facilities, according to Bloomberg. The visit took place just days before the Army formally announced activation of the missile battery.
Beyond schedule delays, questions remain about the system’s overall readiness. In October, the Pentagon’s testing office told Bloomberg that it had not yet conducted an end-to-end operational assessment of the Dark Eagle system and lacked sufficient data to evaluate its operational effectiveness, lethality, suitability, and survivability.
Despite the setbacks, Dark Eagle remains the Army’s most advanced hypersonic program and is expected to become the first operational U.S. hypersonic weapon fielded by any military service. Parallel efforts by the Navy and Air Force share key components with the Army’s system, making progress on Dark Eagle closely watched across the U.S. Department of Defense
