Overview
- The Air Force announced Monday that it awarded Lockheed Martin a $694 million contract, signed Sept. 29, to move the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon from testing into formal production.
- ARRW is a boost-glide hypersonic weapon that uses a solid-rocket booster to exceed Mach 5, releases a maneuvering glide vehicle, has an Air Force‑stated range near 1,000 miles, and relies on kinetic energy to destroy targets.
- The missile is too large for most fighters and will be carried initially by heavy bombers, with the B-52 the primary platform and B-1 tests already reported.
- The Air Force is withholding ordered quantities and delivery dates for operational security, and the award used the DoD Enterprise‑Wide Agile Acquisition vehicle.
- Pentagon budget papers show plans for an ARRW Increment 2 with a terminal seeker and data link to hit moving targets, including ships, and the program’s procurement path remains tied to forthcoming budget approvals and a continuing resolution.