In a historic military move, the United States Air Force has tested a hypersonic cruise missile in the Pacific,the missile, known as the All-Up-Round AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), was launched on March 17 from a B-52 bomber out of Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
The ARRW is a rocket booster motor equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle capable of traveling at speeds greater than Mach 5, approximately 4,000 miles per hour. Designed to target high-value, time-sensitive objectives, this weapon system has the potential to evade modern missile defenses due to its speed and ability to maneuver and vary altitude.
The significance of this test cannot be understated, as an Air Force spokesperson emphasized the insights gained from this endeavor into cutting-edge technology. Specifics of the test’s outcomes, such as speed, distance, or target accuracy, were not disclosed, the primary focus was on evaluating the missile’s end-to-end performance. This test is expected to be the ARRW’s last, following a series of previous trials.
The show of capability in the Pacific is a clear message that the US maintains a strong strategic posture in the region. Craig Singleton, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, articulated, “This test is intended to send a clear message , namely that Washington remains steadfast in reinforcing its strategic posture in the Pacific, even amidst competing global challenges.”
The future of the ARRW program remains uncertain, as there were no plans for combat use procurement and no authorization of funding in the National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2024, there appears to be a potential for reconsideration of the program. Singleton said it may be too early to write off the ARRW.“Signs suggest the Defense Department may be reconsidering its stance on the ARRW program, hinting at a potential revival in light of Russia’s hypersonic strides,” he said.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Dale White told the House Armed Service Committee last week that “future ARRW production decisions ‘are pending final analysis of all flight test data,’” according to a report in from Air and Space Forces magazine.The final tests of the ARRW took place in August and October of 2023, with the Air Force providing limited information on the outcomes. The initial successful test of the system happened in December 2022.
Relevant articles:
– US tests hypersonic missile in Pacific as it aims to keep up with China and Russia, CNN
– US tests hypersonic missile in Pacific as it aims to keep up with China and Russia, CNN
– B-52 bomber carries out Air Force’s first hypersonic missile test in Western Pacific, Stars and Stripes, Mar 21, 2024
– The US Air Force’s oldest bomber fired off a new hypersonic weapon in the Pacific, but the missile’s future is uncertain, Business Insider, Mar 20, 2024