May 16, 2022- 9:25 p.m.
U.S. Air Force Successfully Test-Fires Hypersonic Weapon From B-52 Bomber
A B-52H Stratofortress successfully released an AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW, off the Southern California coast, on Saturday (May 14), according to the U.S. Air Force.
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.
“This was a major accomplishment by the ARRW team, for the weapons enterprise, and our Air Force,” said Brig. Gen. Heath Collins, Air Force Program Executive Officer for Weapons.
The team’s tenacity, expertise, and commitment were key in overcoming the past year’s challenges to get us to the recent success.
We are ready to build on what we’ve learned and continue moving hypersonics forward.
