The U.S. Central Command has requested permission to send the Dark Eagle hypersonic missile to the Middle East for possible use against Iran. This could be the first instance of American hypersonic weapon deployment. This was reported by Bloomberg.
"Iran has moved its launchers beyond the reach of precision-guided missiles capable of hitting targets more than 480 kilometers away," a source told Bloomberg. The U.S. Central Command believes that a system with greater range is necessary to strike launchers deep within Iranian territory.
Each Dark Eagle missile developed by Lockheed Martin Corp. costs about $15 million, and there are no more than eight of them in total. Each battery will cost approximately $2.7 billion. A decision on the request has not yet been made.
As bb.lv reports, while a decision has not been made, the request itself signals that Washington is looking for new ways to overcome range limitations and increase pressure, which could lead to further escalation.
