Image source: topwar.ru
The US Air Force has moved to the testing stage of a full-fledged prototype of the latest hypersonic air-to-ground missile, created under the ARRW (Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon) program. The next rocket launch was carried out off the California coast of the Pacific Ocean.
The US Air Force conducted the first launch of a full-fledged prototype of the AGM-183 ARRW hypersonic missile, launching it from a B-52H strategic bomber. According to a press release from the Aiglin Air Base, the rocket launched during a flight over the Pacific Ocean exceeded the speed of sound by five times. According to telemetry data, all devices and mechanisms of the rocket worked in normal mode, the tests were recognized as successful.
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In July of this year, the US Air Force completed tests of various systems of the AGM-183A ARRW missile and announced that they were moving to comprehensive tests of a full-fledged prototype, which were planned to begin before the end of the year. Apparently, the last launch is the first for this stage. Earlier, 12 launches were carried out as part of the tests, of which nine were unsuccessful.
The AGM-183A ARRW missile is being created in response to similar developments in Russia and China. Strategic bombers B-52H Stratofortress (four missiles for one "strategist") will be the first to adopt a hypersonic missile. In the future, it is planned to put into service promising strategic bombers B-21 Raider.
