Dark Eagle by Lockheed Martin: status and timeline

Dark Eagle

Provide the US Army with a long-range hypersonic strike weapon that can reach targets faster than conventional missiles, with minimal warning to air defense.

DeployStage 4 of 5

First battery fielded Dec 2025; second battery due Q4 2026

Updated Dec 2025Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Second battery deployment

First battery fielded with ArmyDec 2025Complete.
Second battery deploymentTarget Q4 2026Not yet reached.

Most important updates

US Army fields first operational Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon batteryDec 2025

Upcoming

Q4 2026Second battery deployment (next)

Current obstacles

Air defense detectionHypersonic speed requires early warning systems that are still being developed.
High cost per unitBoost-glide missiles are expensive, so only a few can be deployed per platform.

Physics limits

Atmospheric drag increases with speedHypersonic flight generates extreme heat and drag, which limits range and accuracy as speed increases.
Glide path is ballistic after boostOnce the rocket falls away, the warhead follows a mostly predetermined path, limiting mid-course adjustments.

How it works

3 parts

Boost phase

Rocket acceleration

A rocket boosts the missile to hypersonic speed and high altitude, then falls away.

Glide phase

Unpowered glide

The warhead glides to its target without a rocket engine, making it harder to intercept.

Range

Long-distance strike

The combination of speed and glide allows strikes at extreme range with little warning.

Spec sheet

Spec	Dark Eagle
Speed	Mach 5+^R (reported)
Range	~1,725 miles^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

1 update

Dec 2025

Major: US Army fields first operational Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon batteryPressManufacturing

About Lockheed Martin

The team behind Dark Eagle

Lockheed Martin

Defense, aerospace, Skunk Works

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works develops advanced military aircraft, including the Vectis collaborative combat aircraft. Vectis is an unmanned stealth aircraft designed to operate alongside crewed fighters like the F-35.

Skunk Works, Lockheed Martin's advanced development organization, develops military aircraft.
Vectis is a collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) designed to operate alongside F-35 and F-22 fighters.
Five Vectis aircraft in build; first flight targeted by end of 2027.

lockheedmartin.com (opens lockheedmartin.com)Company profile →

Founded: 199531 yrs
Headquarters: United States
Status: Public
Valuation: public
Works in: AviationMilitary drones & autonomy
Coverage: 3 programs · 4 updateslatest 27d agochecked 10 Oct

Spec

Dark Eagle

Speed

Mach 5+^R (reported)

Range

~1,725 miles^R (reported)