The new ARRW (Air launched Rapid Response Weapon) AGM-183A missile was tested two days ago from Edwards Air Base, California.
Stowed under the wings of a B-52 Stratofortress bomber, the missile has not been launched but did a “test run” packed with sensors to measure its aerodynamic and structural response, and vibrations in relation to the aircraft.
Hypersonic weapons have the potential to revolutionize weapons for the 21st century just as the jet engine did for the 20th. Of course, operating at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (5.440 km per hour) poses greater challenges engineering: this is why the development it doesn't proceed for big leaps but for cautious ones next steps.
ARRW is one of two hypersonic weapons developed by the Air Force, and will be operational from 2022 if the major efforts announced by Lockheed Martin are respected.
“We have developed a very AGGRESSIVE roadmap (that too, ed.) that will lead us to the development of ARRW,” says Will roper, responsible for the Air Force technology and logistics.
