The US could use a powerful weapon against Iran for the first time – what is “Dark Eagle”?

The United States is considering the possibility of using its hypersonic "Dark Eagle" missile for the first time in a potential conflict with Iran.

According to Bloomberg reports, this weapon could be deployed in the Middle East to strike potential Iranian targets, particularly ballistic missile launchers that have moved beyond the range of existing American weapons.

"Dark Eagle", also known as the "Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon" (LRHW), is one of the most advanced new-generation American systems, designed for precision attacks at long distances.

It is a ground-based missile system that uses a hypersonic gliding warhead, which can travel at speeds above Mach 5 (more than five times the speed of sound) and has a range of about 2700–3500 kilometers.

This system is designed for rapid and precise strikes against important and well-defended targets, such as command centers, air defense systems, and strategic enemy targets.

If put into operational use in the Middle East, it would be the first time the US has used this type of weapon in real terrain.