Image source: topwar.ru
The United States continues to implement a program to create hypersonic weapons, striving to catch up with Russia and China in this component. The US Air Force conducted regular tests of a prototype of the latest hypersonic air-to-ground missile, created under the ARRW (Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon) program.
According to the Defense News publication, which refers to the statement of the Air Force command, on March 13, 2023, the second test of the prototype of the AGM-183A hypersonic missile took place. The rocket launch, as in previous times, was carried out by a B-52H Stratofortress strategic bomber over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.
Whether the test was successful is unclear at the moment. In a statement, the Air Force said that during the launch of the rocket it was possible to "achieve some goals" and that's it. The Americans did not disclose any other details.
The first launch of a full-fledged prototype AGM-183A took place on December 13 last year, the rocket exceeded the speed of sound five times during the flight, all the devices and mechanisms of the rocket worked in normal mode, the tests were considered successful.
In the summer of 2022, the US Air Force announced the completion of the testing phase of various systems of the AGM-183A ARRW missile and the transition to testing a full-fledged prototype. Apart from the December test, until July last year, the Americans conducted 12 launches, 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.
