U.S. Air Force Advances Hypersonic Capabilities with Successful AGM-183A Missile Test

The recent test over the Marshall Islands demonstrates significant progress in hypersonic weapon development, amid global efforts by rival nations.

The U.S. Air Force successfully tested the AGM-183A hypersonic missile over the Marshall Islands, marking a significant advancement in hypersonic capabilities.
The test, launched from a B-52 bomber, demonstrates the U.S.'s progress in developing hypersonic weapons, capable of traveling over Mach 5 and difficult to detect by early warning systems.
This test follows years of development and setbacks, including a series of failed tests last spring, but underscores the U.S.'s commitment to advancing its hypersonic arsenal amid similar efforts by China and Russia.
The AGM-183A, also known as the ARRW, is an air-launched rapid response weapon developed by Lockheed Martin, with its roots in a $480 million contract awarded in 2018.
Despite previous uncertainties about the program's future, this test acquired valuable data to inform future hypersonic programs, with the Air Force gaining insights into the new technology's capabilities.