The U.S. Air Force confirmed it successfully tested its AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) booster on July 12 off the California coast.
The test concludes the booster test phase of the program and clears it for operational testing later in 2022, USAF said.
The ARRW, four of which can be carried on the pylons of a B-52 bomber, is planned to be USAF’s first operational hypersonic weapon, one that can fly in excess of Mach 5.
The two-stage missile is first accelerated to high speed by a booster rocket, at which point the hypersonic vehicle then separates from the booster and glides to its target.
