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17 May 2022, 03:46

US Air Force reports successful trial launch of hypersonic weapon

Following separation from the aircraft, the ARRW’s booster ignited and burned for expected duration

WASHINGTON, May 17. /TASS/. The US Air Force reported a successful trial-launch of a new hypersonic weapon within the frames of the ARRW (Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon) program, according to the statement from the US Air Force.

"A US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress successfully released an AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW, off the Southern California coast, May 14," the statement reads.

"Following separation from the aircraft, the ARRW’s booster ignited and burned for expected duration, achieving hypersonic speeds five times greater than the speed of sound," the statement added.

A senior US Air Force official said commenting on the test-launch that: "Our highly-skilled team made history on this first air-launched hypersonic weapon. We're doing everything we can to get this game-changing weapon to the warfighter as soon as possible."

According to the statement from the US Air Force "ARRW is designed to enable the US to hold fixed, high-value, time-sensitive targets at risk in contested environments from stand-off distances. It will also expand precision-strike capabilities by enabling rapid response strikes against heavily defended land targets."

In late March, US Navy Vice Admiral Ronald Boxall, Director of Force Structure, Resources, and Assessments for the Joint Staff, announced that the United States intended to field "three long-range hypersonic batteries and four mid-range capability batteries over the next five years."

He also said that the US administration’s financing "includes the fielding of hypersonics in land, air, and sea platforms.".