The U.S. Army announced "Dark Eagle" as the popular name for the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon following the system's successful end-to-end flight test of the common All-Up Round last December.
Part of the name pays tribute to the eagle — a master hunter known for its speed, stealth and agility — due to the LRHW's combination of velocity, accuracy, maneuverability, survivability and versatility. In addition, the bald eagle — our national bird — represents independence, strength and freedom.
The word "dark" embodies the LRHW's ability to dis-integrate adversary capabilities, including anti-access/area-denial systems, communications capacity, long-range fires and other high-payoff/time-critical targets.
The Dark Eagle brings to mind the power and determination of our country and its Army as it represents the spirit and lethality of the Army and Navy's hypersonic weapon endeavors.
"Hypersonic weapons will complicate adversaries' decision calculus, strengthening deterrence," said Patrick Mason, senior official performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology. "Their speed, accuracy and versatility are befitting its new popular name, Dark Eagle."
The U.S. Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office and the U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs partnered to rapidly field land and sea variants of a hypersonic weapon system that will meet critical joint warfighting needs. The use of a common hypersonic missile and joint test opportunities allow the services to pursue a more aggressive timeline for delivery and to realize cost savings.
