Is US Air Force Bringing Back AGM 183A ARRW Hypersonic Missile for Strategic Strikes?
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During a hearing held before the House Armed Services Committee on May 6, 2025, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin announced that the service plans to revive acquisition of the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW). This statement marks a reversal for the hypersonic missile program, which had been halted under the Biden administration. General Allvin explained that two distinct hypersonic systems are currently under development: the larger ARRW, which has already undergone several tests, and the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM), a smaller system designed for broader aircraft compatibility. He added that both systems would be included in the upcoming budget proposal, pending Congressional approval.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The return of ARRW to the Air Force’s strategic priorities comes amid increased competitive pressure, particularly from China and Russia (Picture source: US Air Force)
The return of ARRW to the Air Force’s strategic priorities comes amid increased competitive pressure, particularly from China and Russia. Until now, the Air Force had favored HACM due to its smaller size, which made it more adaptable to fighter platforms. The renewed interest in ARRW reflects a continued emphasis on diversifying long-range strike capabilities within U.S. military doctrine. Although ARRW’s last known test was conducted in 2024, there has been no formal decision to enter production. An Air Force spokesperson indicated that further details would be available once the Trump administration finalizes the fiscal year 2026 budget.
Initially launched in 2018 with DARPA support and based on technologies developed under the Tactical Boost Glide program, ARRW was designed as a conventionally armed hypersonic glide vehicle. It uses a single-stage solid-fuel booster, reportedly derived from the MGM-140 ATACMS short-range ballistic missile. The missile is carried under the wing of a B-52H Stratofortress and released at high altitude, potentially reaching a range of over 1,600 km at speeds exceeding Mach 5. The Air Force had also planned to integrate it onto B-1B Lancer and F-15E Strike Eagle platforms, offering added deployment flexibility. ARRW was intended for high-speed strikes against high-value targets, making interception difficult using existing air defense systems.
Despite initial plans for it to achieve operational capability in 2022, the program experienced repeated technical issues, particularly with software performance and internal components. Flight tests conducted in August and October 2023 were not linked to a procurement decision but aimed to gather data that could inform other hypersonic programs, including HACM. The HACM, which employs a scramjet engine, is expected to begin flight testing in fiscal year 2025 and could become operational by 2027. However, its estimated range of approximately 1,000 km is shorter than that of ARRW, potentially limiting the Air Force’s long-range strike capabilities unless the HACM is deployed on long-range bomber aircraft.
General Allvin’s statement coincided with multiple Congressional hearings on the state of U.S. hypersonic programs. On the Army side, Secretary Daniel Driscoll and General Randy George reported progress on the Dark Eagle program, a ground-launched hypersonic glide vehicle system developed jointly with the Navy and based on the Common Hypersonic Glide Body designed by Dynetics. In parallel, the Army is preparing to test a new long-range missile that may offer a more cost-effective alternative, reflecting a strategy focused on supplier diversification and cost reduction.
These developments underscore the U.S. military’s intention to avoid reliance on a single contractor or technology platform. This approach also applies to the portfolio of Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), which, while not hypersonic, are integral to the modernization of Army artillery. Several variants are in development, with planned ranges exceeding 1,000 km. One version is expected to be launched from an autonomous platform, reflecting ongoing efforts to integrate robotics and modularity into next-generation strike systems.
In this strategic context, the revival of the ARRW program is not simply a technical decision, but a broader political and military signal of the United States’ intent to preserve its long-range strike capability amid rapid advances by China and Russia in hypersonic weapon technologies.
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During a hearing held before the House Armed Services Committee on May 6, 2025, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin announced that the service plans to revive acquisition of the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW). This statement marks a reversal for the hypersonic missile program, which had been halted under the Biden administration. General Allvin explained that two distinct hypersonic systems are currently under development: the larger ARRW, which has already undergone several tests, and the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM), a smaller system designed for broader aircraft compatibility. He added that both systems would be included in the upcoming budget proposal, pending Congressional approval.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The return of ARRW to the Air Force’s strategic priorities comes amid increased competitive pressure, particularly from China and Russia (Picture source: US Air Force)
The return of ARRW to the Air Force’s strategic priorities comes amid increased competitive pressure, particularly from China and Russia. Until now, the Air Force had favored HACM due to its smaller size, which made it more adaptable to fighter platforms. The renewed interest in ARRW reflects a continued emphasis on diversifying long-range strike capabilities within U.S. military doctrine. Although ARRW’s last known test was conducted in 2024, there has been no formal decision to enter production. An Air Force spokesperson indicated that further details would be available once the Trump administration finalizes the fiscal year 2026 budget.
Initially launched in 2018 with DARPA support and based on technologies developed under the Tactical Boost Glide program, ARRW was designed as a conventionally armed hypersonic glide vehicle. It uses a single-stage solid-fuel booster, reportedly derived from the MGM-140 ATACMS short-range ballistic missile. The missile is carried under the wing of a B-52H Stratofortress and released at high altitude, potentially reaching a range of over 1,600 km at speeds exceeding Mach 5. The Air Force had also planned to integrate it onto B-1B Lancer and F-15E Strike Eagle platforms, offering added deployment flexibility. ARRW was intended for high-speed strikes against high-value targets, making interception difficult using existing air defense systems.
Despite initial plans for it to achieve operational capability in 2022, the program experienced repeated technical issues, particularly with software performance and internal components. Flight tests conducted in August and October 2023 were not linked to a procurement decision but aimed to gather data that could inform other hypersonic programs, including HACM. The HACM, which employs a scramjet engine, is expected to begin flight testing in fiscal year 2025 and could become operational by 2027. However, its estimated range of approximately 1,000 km is shorter than that of ARRW, potentially limiting the Air Force’s long-range strike capabilities unless the HACM is deployed on long-range bomber aircraft.
General Allvin’s statement coincided with multiple Congressional hearings on the state of U.S. hypersonic programs. On the Army side, Secretary Daniel Driscoll and General Randy George reported progress on the Dark Eagle program, a ground-launched hypersonic glide vehicle system developed jointly with the Navy and based on the Common Hypersonic Glide Body designed by Dynetics. In parallel, the Army is preparing to test a new long-range missile that may offer a more cost-effective alternative, reflecting a strategy focused on supplier diversification and cost reduction.
These developments underscore the U.S. military’s intention to avoid reliance on a single contractor or technology platform. This approach also applies to the portfolio of Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), which, while not hypersonic, are integral to the modernization of Army artillery. Several variants are in development, with planned ranges exceeding 1,000 km. One version is expected to be launched from an autonomous platform, reflecting ongoing efforts to integrate robotics and modularity into next-generation strike systems.
In this strategic context, the revival of the ARRW program is not simply a technical decision, but a broader political and military signal of the United States’ intent to preserve its long-range strike capability amid rapid advances by China and Russia in hypersonic weapon technologies.
