Pentagon Test Office Needs More Data On New Hypersonic Missile

March 12, 2026, 6:26 PM UTC

The Pentagon testing office said it won’t get enough data to evaluate the combat effectiveness of the US’s first hypersonic missile until early next year, another troubling sign as the US struggles to catch up with China and Russia in deploying the weapon.

Tests so far of the Army’s Dark Eagle haven’t produced enough data to determine its “operational effectiveness, suitability and survivability,” according to the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation. Also unknown is its ability to withstand a cyber-attack, the office found.

The testing office forecasts that it will get sufficient data after operational testing is completed in ...

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