Dark Eagle LRHW hypersonic battery nears operational readiness at Lewis-McChord
The US Army is weeks from fielding its first land-based hypersonic weapon ready for combat. Bravo Battery at Joint Base Lewis-McChord expects its full set of live Dark Eagle missiles, then full operational readiness. Reported range about 1,725 miles, built under a $2.7B Leidos $L
The US Army is within weeks of fielding its first land-based hypersonic weapon that is ready for combat use. According to Army Recognition and DefenseScoop, Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, part of the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State, expects to receive its full complement of live Dark Eagle missiles in the coming weeks. Once they arrive, the unit transitions to full operational readiness. Dark Eagle is the Army name for the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon, or LRHW. It is a ground-launched system built around a hypersonic glide body with a reported range of about 1,725 miles, paired with transport, support, and fire control equipment. The battery was officially activated in December 2025, and soldiers have trained on the equipment since 2021 as part of a phased fielding plan. The program reached another milestone in April, when Leidos $LDOS was awarded a contract reported at $2.7 billion tied to the weapon production. The Army has framed the deployment around Indo-Pacific operational priorities. This is the first US land-based hypersonic weapon to approach operational status. Reporting comes from Army Recognition, DefenseScoop, and the Congressional Research Service.