Foreign media: US Army briefly released latest photos of "Dark Eagle" hypersonic missile, then deleted them.
[Global Network Report by Reporter Yan Peiyun] According to reports from the American "Defense Blog" website and the Belgian "Army Recognition" website on the 22nd, the U.S. Army briefly released the latest photos of its "Dark Eagle" hypersonic missile on the 21st local time, and then deleted them without any explanation. The aforementioned photos quickly spread online.
The "Army Recognition" website stated that the photos released by the U.S. Army rarely showcase the latest progress of the "Dark Eagle" hypersonic missile, and the release of the photo coincides with the Army's push to deploy the system for combat. The briefly released photos show that the launch system appears to be configured and ready for combat deployment, along with support vehicles that match the complete missile system structure.
Reports indicate that the U.S. Army has not explained the reason for deleting the photos, nor clarified whether the deletion was due to operational security concerns or administrative error.
The "Defense Blog" website explained that the incident has drawn attention because the "Dark Eagle" hypersonic missile represents one of the U.S. Army's most advanced long-range strike capabilities, developed to strike heavily defended targets at extreme distances.
It is reported that the "Dark Eagle" is a hypersonic missile jointly developed by the U.S. Army and Navy, with a maximum speed of 17 Mach. The U.S. claims that the missile has a range of approximately 2,800 kilometers, but according to a recent test, the "Dark Eagle" flew over 3,800 kilometers. The launch system for the "Dark Eagle" missile is modified from the U.S. military's M870 trailer, with each trailer capable of carrying up to two "Dark Eagle" missiles sealed in separate launch boxes. The "Defense Blog" website stated that data from the U.S. Government Accountability Office indicates that the first operational "Dark Eagle" missile system will cost approximately $2.7 billion, including the missiles and related equipment.
The U.S. Army briefly released and then deleted photos of the 'Dark Eagle' hypersonic missile on the 21st, showcasing its readiness for combat deployment. The missile, developed for long-range strikes, can reach speeds of 17 Mach and has a range exceeding 3800 kilometers. The deletion of the photos remains unexplained, raising questions about operational security or administrative error.
- U.S. Army released photos of the 'Dark Eagle' hypersonic missile on the 21st and deleted them shortly after.
- The missile is designed for long-range strikes against heavily defended targets.
- The 'Dark Eagle' can reach speeds of up to 17 Mach and has a claimed range of approximately 2800 kilometers, with recent tests exceeding 3800 kilometers.
- The missile system's launch platform is based on a modified M870 trailer, capable of carrying two missiles in separate launch boxes.
- The estimated cost for the first operational 'Dark Eagle' system is around $2.7 billion.