The US Central Command has requested the deployment of the hypersonic missile Dark Eagle in the Middle East to be able to target Iranian launchers located over 500 kilometers away. If the request is approved, it would be the first time the United States deploys the Dark Eagle missile.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) justified its request by stating that Iran has moved its ballistic missile launchers deeper into the country, making them inaccessible to other American missiles, as reported by Bloomberg.
According to a source, a final decision has not yet been made regarding the deployment of the hypersonic missile.
The Dark Eagle system developed by Lockheed Martin to counter advanced air defense systems from China and Russia is currently in the testing phase. Its capabilities are classified, notes the agency. It is only known that the Dark Eagle missile has a range of approximately 2,760 kilometers and can reach speeds of over 6,100 km/h, capable of evading interception.
The cost of a Dark Eagle missile is estimated at around 15 million dollars, but a battery costs approximately 2.7 billion dollars.
The United States currently possesses only eight such missiles, according to Bloomberg.
The request for the deployment of the hypersonic Dark Eagle missile comes amid a ceasefire between Iran and the United States. Bloomberg analysts believe that both parties are taking advantage of this pause to rearm and plan new military actions.
T.D.