Latest news with #JerryPike
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
US Army launches hypersonic missile from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A December 2024 hypersonic missile test from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. | Credit: DOD The U.S. Army launched an undisclosed hypersonic missile from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force station last week, just days after naming its new hypersonic weapon the "Dark Eagle." Dark Eagle is the colloquial name for the U.S. Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), a surface-to-surface missile that carries a hypersonic glide body, a vehicle capable of carrying warheads and maneuvering as it travels at speeds greater than five times the speed of sound through Earth's atmosphere. Because of their speed and maneuverability, these types of weapons are much more difficult to defend against than traditional missiles. The U.S. Army did not disclose any details about the test, the existence of which was learned largely through airspace closure notices issued by the Federal Aviation Administration for Friday, April 25. It's unknown if this launch was the "Dark Eagle," although the Army launched the same missile from the Cape late last year. However, some Space Coast photographers were able to snap a few pictures of what appears to be the launch. Photographer Jerry Pike posted four photos to X that appear to show the Dark Eagle/LRHW launching from Cape Canaveral out toward the Eastern Range, the airspace that supports launches from the U.S. East Coast. "Shortly after liftoff, the vehicle split into two distinct sections, with one appearing to tumble away, and the other continuing to propel itself forward until it disappeared into the sky," Pike wrote in the post. It's unclear what the fallen piece could have been, but the LRHW is a two-stage rocket; it's possible Pike caught the first stage falling away. The U.S. Army just announced the name "Dark Eagle" for the LRHW on April 25. According to an Army statement, the word "dark" reflects the missile's ability to render obsolete adversary capabilities, including anti-aircraft systems, long-range weapons and communication infrastructure. RELATED STORIES: — US and UK militaries pick Rocket Lab's HASTE launcher to help test hypersonic tech — Rocket Lab's secretive launch last month was a hypersonic test for the US military (photos) — Space Force aims to launch 1st 'Foo Fighter' satellites in 2027 to track hypersonic threats "Eagle," meanwhile, owes its name to the bald eagle, the national bird of the United States. The bald eagle, the Army writes, is "a master hunter known for its speed, stealth and agility" and reflects the LRHW's "combination of velocity, accuracy, maneuverability, survivability and versatility." The U.S. Army last tested the LRHW in December 2024 in another flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. That test "achieved hypersonic speed at target distances and demonstrates that we can put this capability in the hands of the warfighter," said Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth in an Army statement.
Newsweek
28-04-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
Photos Show US Launching Dark Eagle Hypersonic Missile
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States conducted a test launch of the U.S. Army's hypersonic missile, also known as the Dark Eagle, in Florida on Friday, capable of traveling over five times the speed of sound. Newsweek has reached out to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for comment by email. Why It Matters Russia and China have fielded their hypersonic weapons, including the Russian Oreshnik missile that was launched against Ukraine last November, as well as the Chinese DF-17 medium-range ballistic missile that can strike Japan where the U.S. has deployed its forces. This type of so-called "game-changer" armament is capable of evading most of the air and missile defense systems by maneuvering within the atmosphere at hypersonic speed. The U.S. is currently developing hypersonic missiles and the countermeasures against them. What To Know According to photos shared on X, formerly Twitter, by @JerryPikePhoto, the U.S. Army executed a test launch of the Dark Eagle missile, also known as the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday. A missile was seen launching from the ground. Liftoff of the LRHW Dark Eagle this morning 🚀 — Jerry Pike (@JerryPikePhoto) April 25, 2025 Shortly after liftoff, the vehicle split into two distinct sections, with one appearing to tumble away, and the other continuing to propel itself forward until it disappeared into the sky — Jerry Pike (@JerryPikePhoto) April 25, 2025 The Office of the Secretary of Defense confirmed the test event to Orlando Sentinel, adding that the results are being evaluated. This marked the first test of the Dark Eagle missile since its successful flight test held in December last year, the report added. The Dark Eagle is a ground-launched missile attached with a maneuverable hypersonic glide body as its warhead, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) said in its report on Thursday. The missile has a reported range of 1,725 miles with a top speed of over 3,800 miles per hour. According to the report, each Dark Eagle missile unit will consist of four launchers armed with a total of eight missiles. Due to what the report called "integration challenges," the first complete unit is now expected to be fielded in fiscal year 2025, two years behind schedule. Fiscal year 2025 began on October 1, 2024, and ends on September 30, 2025, meaning the U.S. Army has five months left to put the missile into service, according to the new schedule. The latest test comes after the U.S. Army announced on Thursday that "Dark Eagle" is the popular name for the LRHW. The word "dark" reflects the weapon's ability to "disintegrate adversary capabilities," while "eagle" is a tribute to the master hunter, the U.S. Army said. The LRHW, which is the combination of velocity, accuracy, maneuverability, survivability, and versatility, matches the eagle's characteristics—speed, stealth, and agility. Meanwhile, America's national bird, the bald eagle, represents independence, strength, and freedom. In this photo provided by the United States DOD on December 12, 2024, a Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon system fires a conventional hypersonic missile from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. In this photo provided by the United States DOD on December 12, 2024, a Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon system fires a conventional hypersonic missile from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. U.S. Department of Defense What People Are Saying Patrick Mason, U.S. senior official performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, said on Thursday: "Hypersonic weapons will complicate adversaries' decision calculus, strengthening deterrence ... Their speed, accuracy and versatility are befitting its new popular name, Dark Eagle." The Congressional Research Service reported: "The LRHW system provides the Army a strategic attack weapon system to defeat Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) capabilities, suppress adversary long-range fires, and engage other high payoff/time critical targets." What Happens Next? It remains to be seen whether the U.S. Army will conduct additional tests of the Dark Eagle missile before declaring it operational. The Army has previously expressed interest in operating its Multi-Domain Task Force, which hosts the Dark Eagle missile, out of Japan.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Military launches mystery missile from Cape Canaveral; Army names hypersonic program 'Dark Eagle'
An undisclosed missile streaked skyward with rapid speed Friday, April 25, during a Department of Defense test from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, leading space observers to conclude it could have been another Dark Eagle hypersonic missile launch. The secretive morning launch, which ascended from the Cape over the Atlantic Ocean, was not publicly announced. But unusual rocket-related navigational advisories released in recent days provided clues that a Dark Eagle test launch was possible. "It got shot out of a launcher and then ignited. And it took off — a lot, lot, lot faster than any other Falcon 9 that you would see lift off here at the Cape," Cape Canaveral space photographer Jerry Pike said. "It left a big, solid propellant smoke trail on its way up," said Pike, who had set up his camera at the beach at Jetty Park and waited for a possible liftoff, lens pointed northward. Hypersonic missile: Mysterious federal advisories point to possible hypersonic missile launch from Cape Canaveral In a statement to FLORIDA TODAY, a DoD spokesperson confirmed that an unspecified test had occurred. "A combined team of government, academic, and industry partners conducted a test on behalf of the Department of Defense from a test site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. We are currently evaluating the results of the test," the statement said. No further information was released, and the statement mentioned neither a missile launch, hypersonic technology nor the Dark Eagle program. In mid-December, the U.S. Army and Navy conducted an unannounced, successful Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon test from Launch Complex 46 at the Space Force installation. These missiles can travel faster than five times the speed of sound. Army officials confirmed on Thursday, April 24, that Dark Eagle was the official name for the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon program. "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," a DoD press release said. The U.S. Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office and U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs are partnering to develop land and sea variants of the Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon system. Pike said it appeared the missile may have undergone stage separation less than a minute after liftoff, and he watched it recede over the Atlantic until it was out of sight. The Coast Guard and Space Launch Delta 45 had issued an April 25 navigational warning for boaters that depicted an uncharacteristically narrow launch security zone extending east-southeast from Cape Canaveral across offshore waters. "Hypersonic weapons will complicate adversaries' decision calculus, strengthening deterrence," Patrick Mason, senior official performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, said in the Dark Eagle press release. "Their speed, accuracy and versatility are befitting its new popular name, Dark Eagle," Mason said. The DoD missile test occurred less than 12 hours after a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. That April 24 night mission deployed 28 Starlink broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit. For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@ Twitter/X: @RickNeale1 Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: DoD launches undisclosed missile during test at Cape Canaveral, Florida
