US seeks to deploy $15M ‘Dark Eagle’ hypersonic missile for the first time against Iran: report

The request, which was made by US Central Command, justified the deployment of a hypersonic missile, arguing that the Iranian regime has moved its launchers out of range of the the US’s Precision Strike missile, which can hit targets more than 300 miles away, a person with direct knowledge told Bloomberg.

The US Central Command has requested to send the Dark Eagle hypersonic missile to the Middle East. The Washington Post via Getty Images

If given the green light, the move would mark the first time the US has deployed a hypersonic missile, which has not yet been declared fully operational.

The request has not been made public, and the US and Iran have had a tenuous cease-fire in place since April 8. President Trump, however, hasrepeatedly threatenedto reignite the Iran war with renewed military action as talks toward a peace deal remain at an impasse

The Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon, known as Dark Eagle, has a reported range of 1,725 miles and is specifically made for “long range conventional precision strike capability” against “time-sensitive and heavily defended targets,” according to the Library of Congress.

The US and Iran have had a cease-fire since April 8. U.S. Army Pacific/America's Theater Army for the Indo-Pacific

Each missile costs roughly $15 million, and there are no more than eight, the source told Bloomberg. Each battery will also cost roughly $2.7 billion, the outlet reported.

Adversaries like Russia and China have already deployed the weapons, the outlet reported.

CENTCOM did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

Trump, meanwhile, doubled down on his 16-day blockade of Iran’s oil exports Wednesday — after rejecting an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping, while setting aside the nuclear issue for a later date.

“The blockade is genius, okay? The blockade has been 100% foolproof,” Trump told reporters.

“Now, they have to cry uncle, that’s all they have to do. Just say, ‘We give up.’”