The U.S. Air Force called the trial a “huge success” after a series of failed launch tests.
The U.S. military says it has conducted a test for a hypersonic missile system, claiming the new weapon has reached five times the speed of sound. This marks the first successful launch for the prototype after three uncomfortable experiments.
The Air Force announced the test Monday, saying it was conducted over the weekend near Edwards Air Force Base in California. The trial showed a B-52 Stratofortress bomber dropping an AGM-183A air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) off the southern coast of California.
“After being detached from the aircraft, the ARRW’s booster ignited and ignited for the expected time, achieving five times the hypersonic speed of the sound,” he said. The military says Brigadier General Heath Collins, the Air Force’s program executive officer for weapons, conducted the test. “The main achievement.”
Although the Pentagon has claimed that the weapon’s boost-glide system could theoretically reach the Mac 20 or 20 times the speed of sound, it achieved much lower scores during Saturday’s test. Officials did not specify how far the missile flew during the latest launch, but the military has previously set up an operational range of about 1,000 miles (1,609 km).
Under development by arms contractor Lockheed Martin since 2018, ARRW has tested only a few flights to date, including three failed booster tests between April and December 2021. Although previous tests for its sensors and communications system were successful, other technical issues prompted officials to delay the program by up to a year in April.
Weeks ago, lawmakers went on to halve funding for flagship weapons, noting “Recent failures and test delays.” The decision thwarted the Air Force’s plans to purchase the first 12 ARRW missiles from Lockheed Martin this year, leaving several unanswered questions about the procurement process.
Although the United States has not yet developed a hypersonic platform, ARRW is not the only one working. CNN quoted a U.S. official as saying. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on condition of anonymity, said the test was kept secret to avoid tensions with Russia.
Russia has also developed and deployed its own hypersonic weapon – the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (Dagger), which entered service in late 2017. In March, Russia’s Defense Ministry said a Kinzal was used to destroy an ammunition depot. Western Ukraine.
Read more:
The United States has secretly tested a hypersonic missile
You can share this story on social media:
