The United States Air Force has successfully test-launched a prototype of the AGM-183A hypersonic missile.

The United States Air Force reported this in their statement.

The tests took place on December 9. The test was launched from a B-52H Stratofortress bomber jet off the coast of California.

The previous test events focused on proving the booster performance.

Following the ARRW’s separation from the aircraft, it reached hypersonic speeds five times greater than the speed of sound. Then, it successfully followed the given trajectory and hit the target.

Indications show that all objectives were met.

Preliminary tests took place in May this year.

The development of the AGM-183A ARRW (Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon) is one of the most important defense projects in the United States. The ARRW consists of an air-based solid-propellant missile equipped with a hypersonic unit with a Tactical Boost Glide rocket engine.

This aircraft system is created within the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) project – a universal guided maneuverable gliding hypersonic warhead designed to equip the weapons systems for three types of US forces (Army, Air Force, and Navy).

The plan is to purchase at least eight full-fledged AGM-183A prototypes, some of which might be deployed with limited operational capabilities depending on the flight test successes.

As previously reported, Northrop Grumman conducted the fourth successful flight test of the AARGM-ER long-range anti-radiation guided missile.