Dark Eagle and the shift to high-rate, low-cost hypersonic and precision weapons
Key Questions
What is the status of the U.S. Army's Dark Eagle hypersonic missile?
Dark Eagle is combat-ready with the first battery completed, including 8 rounds after $12 billion spent. Army photos confirm training on Guam during Valiant Shield, marking the first forward deployment in the Pacific.
What delays has the GAO identified for the LRHW program?
GAO reports highlight lack of a comprehensive strategy, production below 12 units per year, and Zumwalt integration slipped by 24 months. The Navy's at-sea CPS test is not expected until 2027.
What low-cost hypersonic missile initiatives is the Pentagon pursuing?
The Pentagon is buying 12,000 cheap hypersonic missiles, including Castelion's Blackbeard at under $300,000 per unit with the Navy ordering the first 50. Lockheed is also developing the NXGB low-cost glide missile.
What progress has Turkey made with the TAYFUN missile?
Turkey's TAYFUN Block-2 has entered service, and Block-3 achieved a direct hit on a moving maritime target as an ASBM variant.
How much has the UK committed to the PrSM program?
The UK has joined the PrSM program with a £190 million investment.
Dark Eagle has a complete eight-round battery and is training on Guam, but GAO reports production below 12 rounds annually, quality concerns, and major Navy integration delays. Blackbeard remains at captive-carry and integration-demonstration status, with truck-launcher, HIMARS-integration, and high-volume procurement plans still prospective; the tradeoff between mature costly systems and magazine-depth concepts remains unresolved.