The US Air Force (USAF) informed yesterday (12) that it successfully carried out the first complete test of its new hypersonic missile, the AGM-183 Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW). 

In a statement, the organization says that the test was carried out last Friday (09). While other events focused only on the ARRW rocket, the most recent event evaluated the performance of the complete armament, called the all-up-round (AUR).

A B-52 Stratofortress bomber took off from Edwards Air Force Base in California and headed for the Point Mugu test zone over the Pacific Ocean. The jet then launched the ARRW, which rose and accelerated to Mach 5 (5x the speed of sound), at which point the front fairing opened and launched the Hypersonic Glider Vehicle (HGV). 

The HGV, which still has an explosive fragmentation warhead, successfully flew and hit the target, marking the first successful full test of Washington's new strategic weapon. The USAF states that "indications show that all objectives have been achieved."

As the name implies, the HGV does not have its own engine, following to the target at hypersonic speeds from separation with the booster. However, it is a dangerous weapon: unlike hypersonic ballistic missiles such as the russian kinzhal, the HGV can maneuver erratically. That means the enemy will have a hard time detecting and intercepting the weapon, which it maneuvers while flying at Mach 5. 

The first test of the ARRW took place in 2019, at a time when the USAF expected to have the missile ready by 2022. However, problems and design difficulties delayed the development of the AGM-183. The most recent event is an important step forward for the project. At the same time, the USAF is still evaluating two other concepts: the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile and the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept. 

“The ARRW team successfully designed and tested an air-launched hypersonic missile in five years,” said Brigadier Jason Bartolomei, executive officer of the Armaments Directorate Program. “I am immensely proud of the tenacity and dedication this team has shown to deliver a vital capability to our warfighter.”