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United States Lockheed Martin
Dark Eagle (LRHW)
The U.S. Army's ground-mobile Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), fielded as 'Dark Eagle'. It launches the common conventional hypersonic All Up Round (a two-stage rocket booster carrying the Common Hypersonic Glide Body) to intermediate range at hypersonic speed (Mach 5+). A battery comprises four M983 transporter-erector launchers (two missiles each, eight rounds total) and a Battery Operations Center. Lockheed Martin is the prime for the booster and weapon assembly; Dynetics produces the glide body. The same all-up round is the U.S. Navy's Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) weapon for Zumwalt-class destroyers and Virginia-class submarines.
In service since 2023 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-16
💲 ≈ $41,000,000, Widely cited open-source per-missile cost; conventional (non-nuclear) prompt-strike weapon
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 2023. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
Unit cost known; one-shot / small-arms class has no meaningful O&S tail to model.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 5 Mach |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 3,500 km |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | Conventional kinetic-energy glide vehicle |
|---|---|
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Inertial navigation, GPS |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Width Overall width, matters for rail/road transport of vehicles. | 0.88 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 7,394 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 0 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Two-stage solid-fuel rocket booster with Common Hypersonic Glide Body |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $41,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
Specifications compiled from public Lockheed Martin and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-16.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the Lockheed Martin Dark Eagle (LRHW)? +
The Lockheed Martin Dark Eagle (LRHW) has a maximum range of 3,500 km.
How much does the Lockheed Martin Dark Eagle (LRHW) weigh? +
The Lockheed Martin Dark Eagle (LRHW) has a combat weight of 7,394 kg.
How many crew does the Lockheed Martin Dark Eagle (LRHW) require? +
The Lockheed Martin Dark Eagle (LRHW) requires a crew of 0.
What is the Lockheed Martin Dark Eagle (LRHW) used for? +
The Lockheed Martin Dark Eagle (LRHW) is a strategic missiles typically used for strike.
How many countries operate the Lockheed Martin Dark Eagle (LRHW)? +
The Lockheed Martin Dark Eagle (LRHW) is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the Lockheed Martin Dark Eagle (LRHW) cost? +
The Lockheed Martin Dark Eagle (LRHW) has an approximate unit cost of 41,000,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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