In response to mounting worries that China and Russia have had more success creating their own hypersonic weapons, the USAF announced on Wednesday that the United States recently conducted a successful test of a Lockheed Martin Corp. hypersonic missile.
The Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) booster was successfully tested on Tuesday off the coast of California, according to the U.S. Air Force. As per the USAF press release, “ARRW is designed to provide the ability to destroy high-value, time-sensitive targets. It will also expand precision-strike weapon systems’ capabilities by enabling rapid response strikes against heavily defended land targets”.
Read More: What Are Hypersonic Weapons and Who Has Them?
“This was another important milestone for the Air Force’s first air-launched hypersonic weapon. The test successfully demonstrated booster performance expanding the operational envelope. We have now completed our booster test series and are ready to move forward to all-up-round testing later this year. Congratulations to the entire ARRW team, your dedication and expertise are what got us here,” said Brig Gen. Heath Collins, Armament Directorate program executive officer.
Read More: China tests a hypersonic missile, capable of flying through the earth’s thermosphere
Hypersonic Weapons and the United States of America
The United States of America begins working on hypersonic weapons in 2007 under the Prompt Global Strike program. In 2021, US Army and American contractors conducted multiple tests of different components essential for hypersonic missiles. Pentagon also announced that, in 2022, US Army and Navy will conduct more tests of hypersonic missiles. The United States already stated that its hypersonic weapons would be armed with hypersonic weapons. Due to the nuclear blast effect, a nuclear-armed hypersonic missile would be more destructive if it is just 10 percent accurate.
