The US Army briefly published and then removed new official images of its Dark Eagle Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), offering rare updated views of the system as it nears operational fielding.
Online observers quickly captured and redistributed the photographs before their deletion, while army officials have not explained why they removed the images.
According to sources, the gallery showed launcher components and system configurations tied to deployment preparations.
Additional shots depicting roll-on/roll-off exercises involving Dark Eagle and Typhon launchers also disappeared shortly after posting.
First Hypersonic Capability
Development of the Dark Eagle began in 2018 with Lockheed Martin as part of Washington’s strategy to provide the first, standalone operational hypersonic missile system for the US Army.
The LRHW incorporates a transporter erector launcher for two missiles that is mounted on an Oshkosh M870 Heavy Equipment Trailer. It is towed by an 8×8 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck, also built by Oshkosh.
Each Dark Eagle battery includes four sets of launchers, allowing up to eight missiles per fire, as well as an operations center and reload vehicles.
Compared to traditional ballistic missiles that follow predictable paths, the weapon uses boost-glide vehicles that can adjust warhead course mid-flight, disrupting the monitoring and tracking of enemy air and missile defenses.
The mobile platform can neutralize targets 2,175 miles (3,500 kilometers) away at speeds above Mach 5 (6,174 kilometers/3,836 miles per hour).
