The American Dark Eagle… the formidable missile that could join the war against Iran

1st May 2026

2 minutes read

The American Dark Eagle… the formidable missile that could join the war against Iran

The U.S. hypersonic “Dark Eagle” missile may be deployed in the war against Iran. If this occurs, it would mark the missile’s first-ever use in combat.

According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has requested that “Dark Eagle” hypersonic missiles be directed toward Iran.

The newspaper reported that the “Dark Eagle” travels at five times the speed of sound and can strike targets at distances of up to 2,000 miles.

However, it is still under development and has not yet been activated. It is reportedly capable of targeting Iranian missile launch platforms that have been moved beyond the range of current U.S. systems.

Despite the strict secrecy surrounding the development of the “Dark Eagle,” reports indicate that this boosted glide vehicle, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, can reach very high altitudes in the upper layers of the atmosphere and maneuver to evade air defenses.

Bloomberg quoted an informed source as saying that the missile’s full operational readiness has not yet been officially announced, and no decision has been made regarding its early deployment. Nevertheless, these reports may be another indication that Washington is preparing for new strikes against Iran.

A resumption of war?

Meanwhile, the Department of Defense (the Pentagon) is drafting plans to resume major military operations against Iran to break its grip on the Strait of Hormuz and force it back to the negotiating table.

The website Axios revealed, citing informed sources, that Trump will receive a briefing from Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, outlining options for conducting “short and powerful” strikes against the infrastructure of the Iranian regime.

Russia and China already possess their own hypersonic missiles, but none reportedly matches the announced speed and range of the “Dark Eagle.”

Russia’s Kinzhal “Kh-47M2” missile entered operational service in 2019, while China deployed its “DF-17” missile in 2020, placing the United States in a race against time to catch up.

As for its most recently developed missile, the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), it has already been used against Iran, but it cannot strike targets beyond 300 miles, meaning that the “Dark Eagle” would provide the United States with a much broader reach inside Iranian territory.

This missile has faced years of delays due to major technical obstacles in achieving speeds of up to Mach 5, in addition to supply chain constraints and test failures.

It remains unclear whether the U.S. military is ready to deploy it or whether CENTCOM’s request is an attempt to threaten Tehran and pressure it into returning to the negotiating table, according to the same source.