United States Central Command has requested deployment of the Dark Eagle hypersonic missile to the Middle East for potential use against Iran, aiming to strike ballistic missile launchers beyond current range limits.
The request, submitted through a Request for Forces to the Pentagon, cites the need for longer-range capability after Iranian launchers were moved beyond the range of the Precision Strike Missile, according to officials familiar with the matter.
The Dark Eagle, also known as the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon, has a reported range of about 1,700 miles and travels at speeds above Mach 5 with mid-flight manoeuvrability, making it difficult to intercept.
If approved, the move would mark the first deployment of a US hypersonic weapon. The system has not yet been declared fully operational and has faced repeated development delays, with only a limited number of units produced.
Officials said no final decision has been made on the request, and the United States Central Command declined public comment on the submission. The request comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following stalled negotiations and recent military activity in the region.
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President Donald Trump said in remarks to Axios that US pressure on Iran would continue unless it abandons its nuclear ambitions. Russia and China have already deployed hypersonic weapons, placing pressure on the United States to field comparable systems as part of its strategic deterrence posture.
