US postpones hypersonic missile program because of abnormality in test

An ARRW missile is mounted on a B-52H bomber during a test usaf

The AGM-183 should have reached preliminary operational capability by October 2021. This is an important milestone in the testing and development of weapons.

However, following a series of setbacks last year, the US Air Force postponed the full missile and launch vehicle test schedule to the next fiscal year, which begins October 2022. The force will conduct a number of tests this year.

US military forces are developing systems hypersonic weapons difference. The Navy is working on a conventional Instant Strike system, which uses the same hypersonic glide vehicle from the Army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon program.

The Air Force is testing both the ARRW and Hypersonic Cruise Strike Missiles, while partnering with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on the Air Launched Hypersonic Weapons Concept system no (HAWC). DARPA is also developing other hypersonic systems.

This week, CNN reported that the US had successfully tested a HAWC missile, but did not disclose the test information because it did not want to worsen existing tensions with Russia. The test took place after Russia announced that it had used Kinzhal hypersonic missiles in Ukraine.

This is the first time the US has successfully tested a version of this weapon made by Lockheed Martin, which is said to have a speed of 5 times the speed of sound (Mach 5) or more.

According to the US Air Force, the ARRW is designed to destroy “high-value, time-critical targets.” The ARRW also allows the military to rapidly strike a well-defended ground target.

The program delay information was announced in the context of US lawmakers expressing concern about the US lagging behind Russia and Russia. China in efforts to develop hypersonic weapons.