Next-gen strike option under consideration as tensions rise despite ceasefire

Last updated: May 01, 2026 | 06:01

Dark Eagle is a ground-launched hypersonic missile designed for long-range precision strikes against heavily defended, time-sensitive targets. Video grab

Dubai: The United States is considering deploying one of its most advanced weapons systems in the Iran conflict — a hypersonic missile known as “Dark Eagle” — in a move that could signal a new phase of escalation even as a fragile ceasefire holds, media reports said.

The system, formally called the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon, has not yet been declared fully operational. If approved, it would mark the first time the US has deployed a hypersonic weapon in a live conflict.

What is Dark Eagle?

Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, it uses a hypersonic glide vehicle that travels at speeds exceeding Mach 5 — more than five times the speed of sound — while manoeuvring mid-flight.…