'Dark Eagle': US missile scenario that scares – 'Russians forced to respond'

'Dark Eagle': US missile scenario that scares – 'Russians forced to respond'

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Scott Ritter, a former UN weapons inspector turned international affairs observer, explains to Russian media why the future deployment of US long-range missiles in Germany is so dangerous.

The White House announced plans to deploy three types of strategic missiles in Germany last week, with the new capabilities including:

• Tomahawk cruise missiles, which became available to the Pentagon following the unilateral abrogation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia in 2019. The missiles, manufactured by Raytheon, have a range of 460-2,500 km and can be armed with conventional or low- to medium-yield nuclear warheads.
• The SM-6 – a long-range surface-to-air missile system that can be launched by the US military's new Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system or the US-deployed Aegis Ashore air and missile defense systems in Romania and Poland. Manufactured by Raytheon. Firing range 240-460 km.
• The US Army's Dark Eagle Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) , the only one of the US hypersonic program in nearly operational condition. Developed by Lockheed Martin. Reported range up to 3,000 km. Unknown payload.

"It is the Dark Eagle that is probably the most destabilizing," Ritter told Sputnik.

"While not a nuclear-capable missile, it is a system that has the ability to strike deep inside Russia with hypersonic precision warheads that are nearly impossible to intercept."

With such a system, the American noted, Pentagon officials in Washington might be tempted to launch an attack against Russian military and leadership targets.

This would be in line with the Department of Defense's long-standing Conventional Prompt Strike (formally Prompt Global Strike) initiative – a program that has been in the works since the 2000s.

"This is an extremely destabilizing development, and Russia has said it will respond ," Ritter said, noting that while "the specifics of a Russian response are not known."

"The American and German decision to deploy in Europe capable medium-range systems is one of the most dangerous decisions made by the US and NATO in an era of dangerous decisions. It is an irresponsible escalation that, if not reversed, can lead to very tragic conclusions."