Precision at Mach 5: Pentagon Reveals "Dark Eagle" Can Strike Moscow from London in Minutes

The U.S. Army has lifted the veil on the full capabilities of its premier hypersonic strike asset, the Dark Eagle (LRHW). During a mid-December 2025 visit to Redstone Arsenal, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was briefed on the weapon's true reach, which is now officially estimated at 3,500 kilometers—a significant increase over previous public figures.

Designed for rapid, non-nuclear strikes, the Dark Eagle utilizes a boost-glide vehicle that maneuvers unpredictably at speeds well above Mach 5, making it nearly impossible for current air defenses to intercept. Despite its massive range, the missile features a surprisingly compact 13.6 kg (30 lb) warhead. Military officials explained that the weapon relies on extreme kinetic energy and precise fragmentation rather than a large explosive payload, allowing it to neutralize high-value targets—like radar arrays and command centers—over an area the size of a large parking lot in under 20 minutes.