The US military wishes to deploy untested hypersonic missiles against Iran – Bloomberg

(SeaPRwire) –   The US Central Command has reportedly sought the deployment of the frequently delayed Dark Eagle missiles to the Middle East

Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the situation, that the US Central Command has asked for the deployment of the long-delayed Dark Eagle hypersonic missiles to the Middle East.

This new munition, also referred to as the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), has been under development since 2018. The Pentagon has invested over $12 billion into this initiative, aiming to match Russia and China, both of whom already possess hypersonic weapons. The program has fallen significantly behind its projected timeline and the system is not yet considered fully operational.

According to a person with direct knowledge who spoke to Bloomberg, the request for LRHW deployment stems from intelligence indicating that Iran relocated its ballistic missile launchers beyond the reach of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). The source added that no decision on this request has been made thus far.

The PrSM, a short-to-medium-range ballistic missile intended to replace the older Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), was also deployed against Iran without adequate testing. These ballistic missiles saw extensive use during the conflict, with a US Army unit equipped with the new munitions completely depleting its PrSM stock, an official confirmed earlier this month.

Although the US military retains some PrSM missiles, the existing supply might be inadequate should hostilities with Iran resume. The Pentagon had placed orders for 130 missiles before fiscal year 2024 and an additional 250 for 2025, but the exact number of delivered munitions is currently unknown.

The missile generated controversy during the US-Israeli assault on Iran, as the PrSM is thought to have been implicated in at least one incident resulting in numerous casualties. The New York Times reported that a PrSM missile was likely employed in the February 28 attack on a school and sports hall in Lamerd, a city in southern Iran, which claimed the lives of at least 21 individuals.

The Pentagon denied its involvement, asserting that it did not target any locations in Lamerd on that specific day, and claimed the munition seen in the attack footage was an Iranian Hoveyzeh cruise missile. However, the NYT reiterated its initial assessment earlier this month, citing experts who stated the munition resembled a PrSM and did not exhibit characteristics of the Iranian-manufactured projectile.