Soaring to New Heights: Air Force and Lockheed Martin Achieve Milestone in Hypersonic Innovation
The U.S. Air Force, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, successfully flight-tested the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) on August 8, 2020. The test took place using the iconic B-52 Stratofortress at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
This captive carry flight involved tactical hardware that was fully instrumented to gather comprehensive thermal, mechanical, and digital data from the flight vehicle. Notably, this marked the first assembly of a tactical ARRW missile, with further ground and flight testing scheduled over the upcoming two years.
“Our team navigated significant hurdles due to the pandemic, achieving a crucial milestone for the ARRW program,” stated Dave Berganini, ARRW program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “This captive carry mission is a precursor to our anticipated booster test flight planned for the early 2020s.”
Hypersonic weapons are designed for quick response and high capability, aimed at overcoming distance in contested environments through their remarkable speed, altitude, and maneuverability. An operational hypersonic air-launched weapon allows the United States to effectively target fixed and high-value time-sensitive objectives from stand-off distances in complex scenarios.
For over 30 years, Lockheed Martin has been at the forefront of research and development in hypersonic technologies, making substantial investments in critical technology and capability enhancements. Our extensive expertise in engineering hypersonic systems, coupled with our experience in maneuvering reentry vehicles, air-breathing engine designs, avionics, and aero/thermal flight sciences, further cements our role as a leader in this advanced field.
