Hypersonic weapon system undergoes testing on B-52 Stratofortress
NewsAugust 12, 2020
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. The U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin announced that they have completed the second hypersonic air-to-ground weapon test on a B-52 Stratofortress bomber out of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The second AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon, ARRW, was flight tested Saturday, officials said.
The first sensor-only prototype of AGM-183A ARRW was carried externally by a B-52 during a flight test in 2019. Officials said at the time they had set an accelerated development schedule for the weapon system.
Hypersonic weapons are designed to travel at five times the speed of sound or higher, denoted as Mach 5 and above, making them more difficult to intercept or defend against, military officials have said.
Hypersonic weapons are expected to provide the U.S. Air Force "time critical capability that will overcome distance in contested environments using high speed, altitude and maneuverability," Lockheed said in the statement.
