WASHINGTON, May 17 (KUNA) -- The United States Air Force said Monday evening that a "B-52H Strat fortress successfully released an AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) off the Southern California coast, May 14." The Air Force said in a statement "Following separation from the aircraft, the ARRW's booster ignited and burned for expected duration, achieving hypersonic speeds five times greater than the speed of sound".
It indicated that "the 419th Flight Test Squadron and the Global Power Bomber Combined Test Force, or GPB CTF, both at Edwards Air Force Base, California, executed the test." Air Force Program Executive Officer for Weapons Heath Collins said in this regard "this was a major accomplishment by the ARRW team, for the weapons enterprise, and our Air Force." Furthermore, 419th FLTS commander and GPB CTF director Michael Jungquist said "our highly-skilled team made history on this first air-launched hypersonic weapon. We're doing everything we can to get this game-changing weapon to the warfighter as soon as possible." (end) si.gaa