The United States Army has achieved a key military milestone with the first-ever overseas deployment of its Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) system, known as “Dark Eagle,” to Australia’s Northern Territory during the recent Talisman Sabre 2025 exercise.
The deployment represents a clear signal to China of America’s growing hypersonic capabilities and determination to counter Beijing’s expanding military influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Hawaii-based 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force transported the weapon system to Australia in July as part of the three-week multinational exercise that concluded in early August, involving over 40,000 personnel from 19 nations. This marks the first time the Dark Eagle has operated west of the International Date Line, demonstrating the US Army’s ability to rapidly deploy and operate advanced strike capabilities in forward environments.
Game-changing capabilities
The Dark Eagle system represents a significant leap in America’s long-range strike capabilities. Capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5, five times the speed of sound, the weapon can strike targets at distances of up to 1,725 miles with unprecedented precision and maneuverability. The weapon’s ability to penetrate sophisticated anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) networks makes it particularly valuable in countering China’s offensive strategies.
Unlike traditional ballistic missiles that follow predictable trajectories, hypersonic weapons can change course during flight, making them extremely difficult to intercept with conventional air defense systems.
Each Dark Eagle battery consists of four mobile launchers on modified M870A4 trailers capable of carrying two missiles each, along with one command and control vehicle and one support vehicle that enable rapid deployment and precise targeting coordination. The system’s mobility allows for “shoot-and-scoot” tactics that complicate enemy targeting and enhance survivability in contested environments.
"Hypersonic weapons will complicate adversaries' decision calculus, strengthening deterrence," Patrick Mason, senior official performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology said in an April 2025 press release by the Department of Defense. "Their speed, accuracy and versatility are befitting its new popular name, Dark Eagle."
Countering the hypersonic gap
The Dark Eagle deployment comes as the United States seeks to close a hypersonic gap with China and Russia. Both nations are actively developing and testing operational hypersonic weapons.
China’s DF-17 missile system, first unveiled in 2019, features a hypersonic glide vehicle designed to penetrate advanced air defenses with a reported range of 1,500-2,000 kilometers. The People’s Liberation Army Navy has also begun fielding the YJ-21, a ship-launched hypersonic anti-ship missile capable of striking at extended ranges.
Russia has similarly advanced its hypersonic capabilities with systems like the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, which can reportedly reach speeds of up to Mach 25 while performing evasive maneuvers and the Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile.
The United States meanwhile has taken a more cautious approach to development and testing of hypersonic missiles and despite the strategic significance of the deployment, the Dark Eagle system faces ongoing technical and operational challenges.
There is also the question of whether hypersonic weapons provide genuine strategic advantages beyond symbolic parity with adversaries. On the other hand, the potential cost of not developing these capabilities could be far greater if Chinese aggression in the Pacific escalates to armed conflict.
The Pentagon’s 2026 budget includes $6.5 billion for hypersonic and conventional weapons acquisition, with $3.9 billion earmarked for R&D.
Strategic message to Beijing
The deployment of the system to Australia wasn’t missed by Beijing. Retired People’s Liberation Army senior colonel Zhou Bo was quoted by the South China Morning Post that “in terms of weapons comparison, it’s not a case of them having something we don’t...What we have may even be better than theirs.”
The strategic positioning in Australia’s Northern Territory places potential Chinese targets well within the Dark Eagle’s operational range, including critical installations in the South China Sea and approaches to Taiwan. This geographic advantage provides the United States with a secure location for possible advanced strike operations beyond the reach of most Chinese weapons systems.
“The employment of the Dark Eagle capability during the exercise underscores our commitment to strengthening alliances and enhancing interoperability with our partners in the Indo-Pacific region,” Capt. Jennifer Lee, commander of Bravo Battery (Dark Eagle), 5-3 Field Artillery Regiment was quoted as saying in a 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force press release. “TS25 provided an invaluable opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon system and validate our readiness and ability to defend our allies and partners. The Dark Eagle is truly ready to go.”