Washington DC (Transatlantic Today) — The U.S. has successfully tested a pair of Lockheed hypersonic missiles. A B-52H Strat fortress took off from the Edwards Air Force Base, California, and carried an AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon. The country has tested Lockheed Martin Corp hypersonic missiles recently, amid the growing concerns of world war 3. Russia and China are successful in keeping their hypersonic weapons upgraded and it seems like the US doesn’t want to stay behind them.
The US Air force Confirmed That They Have Tested Hypersonic Missiles
The U.S. Air Force confirmed that it has successfully tested its Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW). The ARRW test was done and the booster was carried aloft under the wing of a B-52H before it got launched. There were some previous tests done as well but the weapon did not detach from the plane.
“This second successful test demonstrates ARRW’s ability to reach and withstand operational hypersonic speeds, collect crucial data for use in further flight tests, and validate safe separation from the aircraft,” Lockheed said in a statement.
Air Force Brigadier General Heath Collins, program executive officer of, the Armament Directorate, said, “We have now completed our booster test series and are ready to move forward to all-up-round testing later this year.”
Hypersonic Missiles Test Was Conducted At White Sands Range In New Mexico
Hypersonic weapons travel have been tested by the US at the white sands missile range. These weapons are five times the speed of sound and will reach around 6,200 km (3,853 miles) per hour. In a separate hypersonic weapon test, (DARPA) confirmed that the test was successfully performed and they had carried out the first test of its Operational Fires hypersonic weapon.
The successful tests show the progress among the myriad U.S. hypersonic weapons and all the development efforts that have been done in the past few years. The growing questions about cost and increasing concerns about the United States falling behind have urged the US to carry out the test.
The Officials Revealed The Details Of The Missile Test
The official offered scant details about the missile test, done by the US. They shared that the missile flew above 65,000 feet and went far to 300 miles. It went through a lower end of the hypersonic range – which was about 3,800 miles per hour. It took a flight from the light 300 miles and covered the distance in less than 5 minutes.
The test was done after Russia says it used its hypersonic missile while invading Ukraine. It claimed that the targeted ammunition warehouse was captured in western Ukraine due to their missile. The US has been and will be taking careful steps as this could unnecessarily escalate the tensions between Washington and Moscow. The US canceled a test of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) because they wanted to avoid any misinterpretation by Russia.
In general, the US has also remained discreet about the weapons that it sent to Ukraine. The US has also been against the transfer of fighter aircraft sent to Ukraine through the United States because there were concerns regarding it. Kremlin could interpret that such a move by the US and NATO could enter the conflict in Ukraine.
The US test has become the second successful test of a HAWC missile. It is also the first Lockheed Martin version of the weapon. The test met all the primary objectives. (DARPA), reviewed the missile’s integration and release and concluded that it had a safe separation from the launch aircraft. The booster firing and cruise also mentioned how fast the missile flew and what distance it travele
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US Is Emphasizing On Hypersonic Weapons
The US will be placing a new emphasis on hypersonic weapons followed by Russian and Chinese tests in recent months. This has been raising concern in Washington that the US will soon fall behind the military technology considering the future.
In the FY23 defense budget, the Biden administration was processing a budget of $7.2 billion for long-range fires, that also included hypersonic missiles. The Government Accountability Office also identified the 70 efforts that have been made for the development of hypersonic weapons. The development of these missiles is expected to cost nearly $15 billion between 2015 and 2024.
China had successfully tested a hypersonic glide vehicle in the summer. Shortly after that Russia claimed that they have successfully tested its submarine-launched hypersonic missile. This led the US to speed up its missile testing. According to the latest reports the US owns hypersonic missiles and has also tested them successfully.
