US Seeks to Deploy Hypersonic Missile for the First Time Against Iran [View all]

Source: Bloomberg

April 29, 2026 at 5:03 PM EDT


US Central Command has asked to send the Army’s long-delayed Dark Eagle hypersonic missile to the Middle East for possible use against Iran, seeking a longer-range system to hit ballistic-missile launchers deep inside the country.

If approved, it would mark the first time the US will have deployed its hypersonic missile, which is running far behind schedule and hasn’t been declared fully operational even as Russia and China have deployed their own versions.

The Request for Forces submission justifies the move by saying Iran has moved its launchers out of range of the Precision Strike Missile, a weapon that can hit targets at more than 300 miles, a person with direct knowledge of the request said.

The person asked not to be identified discussing a request that hasn’t been made public. No decision has been made yet on the request, the person said. US Central Command declined to comment.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-29/us-seeks-to-deploy-hypersonic-for-the-first-time-against-iran?srnd=phx-politics