US B-52 Bomber Tests ARRW Hypersonic Missile to Narrow Gap with China

In a significant move, the US Air Force has successfully conducted a test launch of a live AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) hypersonic missile. The test, conducted earlier this week, saw a B-52H bomber launching the hypersonic missile from the US Pacific island territory of Guam.

Confirming the development, an Air Force spokesperson stated that the test aimed to evaluate the end-to-end performance of the ARRW system. While specific details about the test outcome were not disclosed, the Air Force emphasized that valuable insights were gained into the capabilities of the new technology. Additionally, the test helped validate and improve test and evaluation capabilities for the continued development of advanced hypersonic systems.

The ARRW missile system comprises an unpowered hypersonic boost-glide vehicle and a large rocket booster. The booster propels the missile to the desired altitude and speed before releasing the boost-glide vehicle, which then glides at hypersonic speeds towards the target, traveling along a shallow and unpredictable path in the atmosphere.

The test comes amid discussions about the future of the ARRW program and potential shifts in resources to other hypersonic missile projects, such as the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM). However, with this successful test, the Air Force has completed its end-to-end evaluation of the ARRW missile.

The test also underscores the growing importance of hypersonic technology in modern warfare, especially as China and Russia continue to advance their hypersonic missile capabilities. While reports suggest that Russia has already deployed hypersonic missiles, China remains ahead in the development and testing of such weapons, posing a significant concern for the US military.

In conclusion, the successful test of the ARRW hypersonic missile represents a crucial step for the US Air Force in narrowing the gap with China and other adversaries in the hypersonic arms race.