US Air Force conducts final test of Lockheed’s hypersonic missile

0
2كيلو بايت

The U.S. Air Force on Sunday carried out what is expected to be the final test of the hypersonic AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon.

The service did not say whether the test was successful.

In a statement to Defense News, an Air Force spokesperson said a B-52H Stratofortress carried out the test of the fully operational ARRW prototype, referred to as an all-up round test, after taking off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The test was carried out at the Reagan Test Site, an Army facility in the Marshall Islands.

The Air Force declined to identify the test’s objectives, but said it “gained valuable insights into the capabilities” of the Lockheed Martin-made hypersonic weapon.

“This test acquired valuable, unique data and was intended to further a range of hypersonic programs,” the spokesperson said. “We also validated and improved our test and evaluation capabilities for continued development of advanced hypersonic systems.”

ARRW is one of the Air Force’s two main programs to develop an air-launched hypersonic weapon that could fly faster than Mach 5 and be highly maneuverable. China and Russia have invested heavily in their own hypersonic weapons, and the Pentagon is under pressure from Congress to show more progress toward fielding the United States’ own capabilities.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall last year told lawmakers the ARRW program had “struggled” in testing, shortly after a March 2023 test failed.

Air Force officials said earlier this month that ARRW’s upcoming test would be its last, and the service plans to wrap up its rapid prototyping program this year. The service requested no funding to procure ARRW, nor conduct any research and development, in 2025.

Kendall has sounded a more optimistic tone about the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile program, and the fiscal 2025 budget request proposes $517 million to keep developing that program. The HACM weapon, developed by Northrop Grumman and RTX subsidiary Raytheon, is an air-breathing missile that the Air Force said would be smaller than ARRW and able to fly along “vastly different trajectories” than the boost-glide ARRW.

The Air Force assistant secretary for acquisition, technology and logistics told reporters earlier this month that the service will study the results of the final ARRW test to help it decide what hypersonic capabilities it will need.

البحث
الأقسام
إقرأ المزيد
Technology
CGMAXPRO19-CS3-1-ENG Dumps - Latest PDF Questions
ValidQuestions has established itself as a highly reliable source for those preparing for the...
بواسطة cayapoy903 2024-11-07 06:28:34 0 2كيلو بايت
أخرى
Oral Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Market Analysis by Top Players, Size, Share and Forecast to 2030
Global Oral Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Market, By Type (Penicillins,...
بواسطة sumitm18 2023-08-04 10:01:15 0 4كيلو بايت
News
President Xi Jinping to welcome Arab state leaders to China, with Israel-Gaza war, Palestine and trade on the agenda
The Israel-Gaza war and the Palestine issue, as well as a free-trade deal between China...
بواسطة Ikeji 2024-05-28 01:26:07 0 2كيلو بايت
أخرى
A Family Affair: Fun and Relaxation in the Maldives
Imagine waking up to the sound of gentle waves lapping against your private villa, the scent of...
بواسطة danialportus 2025-02-07 05:55:38 0 1كيلو بايت
أخرى
Discovering the Best Dermatologists in Karachi: Your Guide to Expert Skincare
Karachi, Pakistan's bustling metropolis, is home to a diverse array of medical professionals,...
بواسطة shahrozimmac 2025-04-16 10:40:10 0 679