The United States has made a request to deploy its modern hypersonic missile along with medium hypersonic missiles to put additional pressure on Iran. If approved, this might be the first time that the US will have used a hypersonic weapon in combat, indicating a dramatic shift in U.S. military strategy for the region.
So what is the Dark Eagle?
The Dark Eagle missile is actually the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) that the US Army has developed to engage targets at long distances rapidly. This class of ultra-fast missile will be able to travel at speeds greater than Mach 5; that is, at a speed over five times the speed of sound.
Hypersonic missiles have capabilities that substantially distinguish them from conventional ballistic missiles, as they do not follow a predetermined flight path like traditional ballistic missiles; rather, hypersonic missiles are capable of being redirected during their flight and thus, making themselves much more difficult to track and intercept. Reports indicate that the Dark Eagle’s range is approximately 1,700 miles (2,700+ km), and it also is expected to be extremely accurate.
In addition to exhibiting the same capabilities as hypersonic missiles that are currently operational in both Russia and China, it is an obvious indication of US goals to catch China and Russia regarding hypersonic weapons development.
The deployment of the Dark Eagle is being evaluated for multiple reasons. US Central Command CENTCOM made the request to field the Dark Eagle due to the fact that Iranian ballistic missile launchers have been relocated outside of strike distance from US forces.
From a military point of view, this highlights a shift to longer range strike alternatives providing quick and survivable capabilities under conditions of rapid and surprise attack.
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Timing: fragile ceasefire/rising tensions
Currently, there exists a temporary peace agreement (ceasefire) between the United States and Iran working through the use of diplomatic negotiations through 2026 since early April. While direct war between the parties has ceased; tensions remain high between both parties and minimal diplomatic progress is being made to resolve longstanding issues regarding Iranian nuclear proliferation and free navigation of the Strait of Hormuz.
Furthermore, US leaders have stated that they will have military options available should they be forced to pursue these objectives through non-diplomatic means therefore increasing levels of risk and uncertainty due to consideration being given to potential additional deployments of US weapons systems to the area.
Strategic/geopolitical considerations
There are several major strategic and geopolitical factors connected to deploying the Dark Eagle.
1. Risk of Escalation: Deploying a hypersonic weapon into an unstable region increases the risk of rapid escalation since hypersonic weapons have much shorter response times than conventional systems, which complicates any defensive planning.
2. Send a Message: This action is an indication to other global powers, such as China and Russia, who have deployed hypersonic weapons, showing that the United States has begun operationalizing its hypersonic capabilities and is willing to employ their system for real-world uses.
3. The Regional Military Balance: Deployment of this system may provide a shift in the balance of military power within the Middle East as it would bolster US strike capabilities and likely encourage Iran and its allies to develop countermeasures.
There are certain limitations or concerns regarding deploying the Dark Eagle System as a State-of-the-Art Hypersonic Weapon:
- Not Fully Operational: The system has experienced delays and is not anticipated to be officially combat-ready for quite some time.
- Limited Inventory: There are projected to be fewer than 10 missiles presently available for deployment.
- Expensive: Missiles are expensive to build and launch; all missiles will probably not be used frequently.
These constraints create ambiguity about whether or not the Dark Eagle would likely be targeted against high-value targets or used in multiple units of fire.
Next Steps
Decisions concerning deployment of the Dark Eagle have not yet been finalized. If this decision is approved the first use of US Hypersonic Missiles in combat will occur which will provide insight into how future conflicts are fought particularly in locations where large stakes are involved (e.g., the Middle East). Currently, there remains an indefinite timeframe within which diplomatic preparations and military preparations are ongoing.
