THOUSANDS OF KILOMETERS IN A FEW MINUTES: Pentagon Secretly Tests New Hypersonic Missile!

The Pentagon secretly tested its “Dark Eagle” hypersonic missile over the past weekend, a weapon reportedly capable of reaching its maximum range of 2,700 kilometers in just a few minutes.

According to several reports, the test mission was conducted from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Interestingly Engineering notes that this marks the first time a war rocket has been tested from Cape Canaveral since 1988.

The missile, jointly developed by the U.S. Army and Navy, was launched from Launch Complex 46. The “Dark Eagle” is the Army’s version of the weapon. It is launched from a land-based platform and flies at five times the speed of sound, potentially hitting any point on Earth within minutes.

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Secretive Launch of the “Dark Eagle” Missile

Unsurprisingly, the U.S. Department of Defense has released very few details about the specifics of this classified mission.

“A joint team of government, academic, and industry partners conducted a test on behalf of the Department of Defense from the test range at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. We are currently assessing test results,” a department spokesperson told Florida Today in a written statement.

The launch was not publicly announced in advance. However, a U.S. Coast Guard navigation warning suggested that a hypersonic test flight would be conducted. The warning included a safety zone extending southeast over the Atlantic Ocean.

The “Dark Eagle” weapon is designed to fly at speeds of around 6,000 km/h, or Mach 5, which is five times faster than the speed of sound. Its estimated range is approximately 2,775 kilometers.

New Hypersonic Capabilities

Leading military powers worldwide are increasingly testing hypersonic weapons to gain an advantage on the battlefield. According to the Pentagon, hypersonic weapons can strike any target on the planet within minutes.

“This truck-launched, ground-based system is armed with hypersonic missiles that can travel at more than 6,100 kilometers per hour,” stated a U.S. Army publication describing the “Dark Eagle.”

“These missiles can reach the upper layers of Earth’s atmosphere and remain outside the range of air and missile defense systems until they are ready to strike, at which point it is too late to react.”

The first complete unit of the “Dark Eagle” system is expected to be operational during fiscal year 2025, two years later than initially planned. Each unit will have four launchers and a total of eight missiles.

“Hypersonic weapons will further complicate an adversary’s decision-making, thereby strengthening deterrence,” said Patrick Mason, a senior U.S. Army official currently performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology.

“Their speed, maneuverability, and altitude justify the popular new name Dark Eagle.”

The U.S. Navy also plans to integrate hypersonic missiles into its destroyers and submarines.