US ARRW hypersonic missile back from the dead

In a striking reversal, the US Air Force’s recent display of a live <a href=«https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/LMT?.tsrc=» https:>Lockheed Martin

AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) hypersonic missile signals a potential comeback for the previously shelved high-stakes program.

This month, The War Zone reported that the US Air Force released pictures of a live AGM-183A ARRW hypersonic missile under the wing of a B-52H bomber during a training event at Andersen Air Force Base on Guam.

The pictures, which include two yellow bands on the front and rear indicating that it is a live weapon, raise new questions about the Air Force’s previously stated plans to kill the program.

“The AGM-183 ARRW is currently in the operational test phase of development. The Air Force has completed three of four planned test flights. A production decision has not yet been made,” an Air Force spokesperson told The War Zone.

The War Zone report describes the ARRW as an unpowered hypersonic boost-glide vehicle in the nose and a large rocket booster at the rear.

The weapon’s first full end-to-end test, which was conducted in December 2022, was deemed unsuccessful. The Warzone reports that the US Air Force has continued to carry out live-fire ARRW testing in the past year, with at least three more end-to-end tests taking place since March 2023.

The report notes that the US Air Force is also looking to conduct an ARRW operational demonstration despite its previously stated plans to close the program.

The War Zone report says that the US Air Force is now reconsidering the ARRW as a critical component of its plans. However, it notes that the high cost per missile, estimated between US$14.9-$17.5 million per unit, limits its use against