Overview
- The Department of the Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $694 million production contract for the AGM‑183A Air‑Launched Rapid Response Weapon that was executed on Sept. 29, 2026 and publicly announced Oct. 26, 2026.
- ARRW is a boost‑glide hypersonic weapon that uses a solid‑fuel rocket booster to exceed Mach 5, then releases a maneuvering glide vehicle the Air Force says can reach roughly 1,000 miles to strike time‑sensitive, well‑defended targets by kinetic impact.
- The program reversed course after a 2023 near‑cancellation following early test failures; later successful flights and new budget requests led service leaders to approve moving the design from prototyping into production.
- Lockheed Martin is expanding its Troy, Alabama facility and says it has already invested in equipment to scale ARRW manufacturing, while the Air Force says it will withhold quantities and delivery dates for operational security.
- Planned FY2027 funding and multi‑year procurement projections remain subject to congressional appropriations and a continuing resolution, and fielding ARRW could alter strike and deterrence options in high‑end scenarios such as the Indo‑Pacific.