U.S. will launch a hypersonic strike against Iran

CENTCOM is seeking a longer-range system to target ballistic missile launchers that Iran has moved beyond the range of the U.S.’s existing Precision Strike Missiles, Bloomberg reports.

If approved, this would mark the first time the United States has deployed a hypersonic missile, the development of which is significantly behind schedule and has not yet been deemed fully operational.

A ceasefire has been in effect between the U.S. and Iran since April 9; such a move indicates that Washington is preparing for new strikes should President Donald Trump make the decision to proceed.

The Dark Eagle missile, also known as the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), reportedly has a range of over 2,700 kilometers. It is capable of reaching speeds five times the speed of sound and maneuvering to evade interception by missile defense systems.

Each such missile, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, costs about $15 million. Currently, the U.S. has no more than eight of these weapons at its disposal, the agency’s source said. The total cost of a single battery of such systems is estimated at $2.7 billion.

To date, the U.S. has already used about 1,100 low-observable JASSM-ER cruise missiles in the war against Iran.

Photo: defence-ua.com.