While it did not meet all flight objectives the test demonstrated
several first-time events as the program continues to track toward fielding a hypersonic capability
in the early 2020s. The air force stated in a press release concerning the flight test.
The air force had hoped that the latest ar rw trial would demonstrate the safe release of the
booster test vehicle from the B-52H that carried the missile and in turn provide information on the
arrw's booster performance during its flight above the point magu sea range off the california coast. Still if not a complete success the missile test was not a total loss either.
The missile cleanly separated from the aircraft and successfully demonstrated the
full release sequence including GPS acquisition, umbilical disconnect and power transfer from the
aircraft to the missile. the air force stated. Additionally the missile also demonstrated fin
operation and deconfliction maneuvers which ensures a safe operation for the aircrew.
AGM-183 AARRW as the name suggests hypersonic weapons are incredibly fast, flying at hypersonic
speeds defined as mach 5'5 times the speed of sound or more. There is an assortment of hypersonic
missiles either in development or already in service with several countries. Notably the
united states russia and china though in the arrw's case, the air force is pursuing a boost
glide type missile. Much like intercontinental ballistic missiles boost glide type hypersonic
weapons rely on a large booster rocket to take them into orbit.
At this point the missile's
unpowered rectangular warhead separates from the missile body and glides down earthward. Although
boost glide warheads do indeed glide through the air the terminology is somewhat of a misnomer.
Over mach 5, this category of missiles is challenging to defend against as existing
missile defense systems are optimized for taking down non-hypersonic missile threats. moreover
so great are hypersonic missiles kinetic energy. They wouldn't necessarily have to carry an
explosive payload. Particularly against land-based targets the sheer force of hitting the earth would
quite literally be explosive.
Though certainly disappointing for the air force the flying
branch's past statement concerning the failed test flight nonetheless ended on an upbeat note. Developing first of its kind missiles as difficult business and this why we test. Brigidari General Heath Collins the air force program executive officer for weapons explain, this is a critical capability for our air force and we have the very best team working to figure
out what happened, fix it and move out to deliver ARRW to our war fighters as quickly as possible.
