‘Dark Eagle’ Hypersonic Missile Deployed to Australia in Historic First

The United States has deployed its Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), nicknamed “Dark Eagle,” to Australia’s Northern Territory — marking the first time this advanced missile system has ever been stationed overseas. The move is part of Talisman Sabre 25, the largest joint military exercise ever conducted between the US and Australia.

With a range of around 1,725 miles (2,775 km) and the ability to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (over five times the speed of sound), the Dark Eagle is designed to outmanoeuvre current missile defences and strike with extreme precision. The system is ground-based, launched from trucks, and built to deliver hypersonic glide vehicles that can reach their targets in minutes.

Why this matters:

The deployment is widely seen as a signal to both Russia and China amid rising tensions in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. It comes just days after former US President Donald Trump suggested he could meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in an attempt to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.

US officials’ perspective:

• Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, called it a “significant achievement” that proves the US Army can forward-deploy and control the system in real-world environments.
• Colonel Wade Germann, head of the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force responsible for the weapon, said it demonstrates America’s “commitment to the defence of Australia” and the security of the broader Indo-Pacific.

The bigger picture — the hypersonic arms race:

• Russia has already used its Kinzhal missile in Ukraine and boasts about the Avangard glide vehicle, said to travel at 27 times the speed of sound.
• China has tested hypersonic systems like the DF-17 and, in 2021, launched a glide vehicle that reportedly orbited the Earth before re-entry — a development that surprised US defence officials.

By placing Dark Eagle in Australia, the US has taken a step neither Russia nor China has matched: deploying hypersonic weapons outside their own borders. The announcement wasn’t made in advance, likely to avoid immediate political flare-ups with Beijing or Moscow.

Although no live launches are planned during Talisman Sabre 25, US officials confirm the system is fully operational. Its presence sends a clear deterrence message as the world watches flashpoints in Ukraine, Taiwan, and beyond.