The US Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) is now moving forward with the development of the first hypersonic weapon for the Air Force. The first steps have been taken to make the first Air Force's air-launched hypersonic weapon a reality. Therefore, as early as fall 2023, the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) will be complete and ready for deployment, according to Interesting Engineering.
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The crew of an US Air Force McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender aerial refueling tanker trains to refuel another KC-10 during flight from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey on October 26, 2022
The ARRW
The ARRW is a hypersonic air-to-ground missile that will be used by the US Air Force. It features a rocket motor that can speed it up to more than Mach 5 before it glides to its target, which Lockheed Martin made.
It can travel at a maximum speed of almost 15,000 mph, and it uses a boost-glide mechanism, in which a rocket is mounted to speed it up to a hypersonic speed before it glides toward a target.
The missile is almost ready to be deployed on the B-52H Stratofortress' newest armament. Since the ARRW can travel five times the speed of sound, it will give combatant commanders the ability to hit time-sensitive targets easily.
According to a press release, the National Defense Authentication Act section 804 Rapid Prototyping, Rapid Fielding program sped up the development of the hypersonic weapon.
Now, it will be considered for quick manufacture and is set to start live-fire testing before the end of this year.
The Need for Hypersonic Missiles
The US Military is getting more hypersonic weapons that are ready for combat in the near future. They not only make travel time shorter but can have battle-winning results.
One of the most powerful differences between hypersonic missiles and conventional missiles is that the former travels at extremely high speeds, so it cannot be stopped or shot down easily. This makes it ideal for attacking targets on the ground. The missile can fly over enemy air defenses, as well as airspace where it can be detected, making it highly useful in wartime.
Hypersonic weapons that can travel at least five times the speed of sound is a game-changer when it comes to national security. These missiles can have the power to win battles and change the course of wars. The US Military is investing a lot of time and money into hypersonic weapons, and it looks like it is already paying off.
The US Government has spent billions in the research and development of hypersonic weapons. If a war breaks out, we can be sure the US Military will have hypersonic weapons ready to go.
The world is moving toward having hypersonic weapons. The US Military has a great advantage by being ahead of many other nations in this field. The ARRW will definitely be beneficial in future wars, and it will be interesting to see where this technology will be headed in the future.
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