US eyes first-ever hypersonic Dark Eagle deployment as Iran pushes beyond strike range
The US military is considering deploying its new Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon to the Middle East amid concerns that Iranian ballistic missile launchers have moved beyond the range of existing US systems. The Dark Eagle system has reached initial operational capability, marking the first time the US has a land-based hypersonic weapon available for potential use.
The US military is exploring the deployment of its new Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon to the Middle East. US Central Command has requested the deployment due to concerns that Iranian ballistic missile launchers have been moved beyond the range of existing US systems. The Dark Eagle system has reached initial operational capability and can strike targets over 1,700 miles away with little warning. The Army began fielding the system in December 2023. Individual Dark Eagle missiles are estimated to cost around $15 million each, while a single battery is estimated at roughly $2.7 billion. The US is accelerating its hypersonic weapons programs amid concerns about competition with China and Russia.
This content was automatically generated and/or translated by AI. It may contain inaccuracies. Please refer to the original sources for verification.