Overview
- The Department of the Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $694 million production contract that was signed Sept. 29 and publicly announced Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, formally shifting the AGM-183A ARRW from testing into production.
- ARRW is a boost‑glide hypersonic weapon that uses a solid‑fuel rocket booster to exceed Mach 5, releases a maneuverable glide vehicle, and relies on kinetic energy on impact to strike high‑value, time‑sensitive targets at roughly a 1,000‑mile standoff range.
- The weapon has been tested primarily on the B‑52H Stratofortress with B‑1B testing planned, and it is too large to fit most fighter jets so initial fielding will focus on long‑range bomber operations.
- Officials withheld the number of missiles ordered and delivery dates for operational security, and further procurement depends on congressional appropriations including the stalled FY2027 budget request; the contract was executed under the DoD Enterprise‑Wide Agile Acquisition model.
- ARRW’s path from its 2018 start through early flight failures, a first successful test in May 2022, near cancellation, and the 2025 decision to resume buys shows persistent technical and budget hurdles even as the program reshapes U.S. long‑range strike posture and affects the global hypersonic race.