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Air Force Sends ARRW, Its 1st Hypersonic Missile, into Production
Air & Space Forces Magazine • • nation
Key Points:
- The U.S. Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $694 million contract to produce its first hypersonic missile, the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), marking its transition from testing to production.
- ARRW is a multistage boost-glide weapon capable of speeds over five times the speed of sound, designed for standoff strikes against high-value, time-sensitive targets, and will initially be deployed on B-52 bombers.
- Development began in 2018 with several test failures delaying progress until a successful test in May 2022; funding challenges caused program pauses, but recent budget allocations have revived production plans.
- The Air Force plans to procure ARRW missiles through 2031, though exact quantities and delivery timelines remain classified due to operational security.
- Air Force leadership emphasizes ARRW’s strategic value in penetrating advanced defense systems and providing rapid, flexible strike options in contested environments.
