The U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin successfully flight tested the second AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) on the service’s B-52 Stratofortress out of Edwards Air Force Base, California, on Aug. 8, 2020.
This captive carry flight was conducted with tactical hardware and fully instrumented to collect thermal, mechanical and digital data from the flight vehicle. This is the first time a tactical ARRW missile has been assembled. Additional ground and flight testing will follow over the next two years.
“The team overcame significant challenges driven by the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve this significant milestone for the program,” said Dave Berganini, ARRW program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “This captive carry mission is the pre-cursor for our first booster test flight planned for early 2020s.”
Going Mach 5, or over 60 miles per minute, creates a number of complex engineering and physics challenges which is why Lockheed Martin leverages expertise and technology from across the corporation to tackle these challenges with speed, agility and ingenuity. As one of the Department of Defense’s highest technical priorities, our scientists and engineers are developing game-changing hypersonic solutions.
Hypersonic weapons and air and missile defense are key priorities of the United States Department of Defense’s National Defense Strategy and Missile Defense Review.
Lockheed Martin has invested in developing and demonstrating hypersonic technology for over 30 years. As a result of this investment, we are at the forefront of operationalizing hypersonic capabilities, systems and engineering.
We are combining our leadership in missile defense, space and advanced materials, which is a combination no other company possesses. Lockheed Martin is uniquely situated to be able to deliver hypersonic strike systems as well as the ability to detect, track and defeat hypersonic threats.
We continue to lead the development of these emerging technologies in support of our customer’s missions as new threats emerge.
