Moscow. October 5. INTERFAX.RU – An enterprise for the production of hypersonic air-launched missiles AGM-183A under the Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) program, as well as hypersonic systems for the US Navy and Army, has begun to operate in the city of Cortland, Alabama, the American corporation Lockheed Martin reported …
At the enterprise of the corporation with a size of more than 6 thousand square meters. meters, which received the name Missile Assembly Building 4 (Missile Assembly Building 4 – MAB 4), by the end of next year, it is planned to produce at least 12 of the first hypersonic air-launched missiles AGM-183A ARRW for the US Air Force.
Meanwhile, these missiles have not yet passed a single successful test. In 2021, two attempts were already made to test missile launch from the B-52H Stratofortress strategic bomber over the Point Mugu training ground near California, which ended in failure. In the first case, the rocket did not separate from the aircraft, and in the second, its accelerator did not work.
Nevertheless, representatives of the US Department of Defense say that all technical problems will soon be eliminated and by the end of next year the US military will receive the first systems.
As follows from the Pentagon data, it is planned that two successful tests of the AGM-183A ARRW should be carried out before the start of production.
The missile is being developed by Lockheed Martin under a $ 480 million contract with the Pentagon. It is intended not only for the Air Force, but also for arming the warships of the US Navy.
The development of the AGM-183A ARRW hypersonic air-launched gliding missile is a key program in the development of American hypersonic weapons. For the purchase of the first 12 missiles in the defense budget for 2022, $ 161 million has already been allocated.
According to design data, the AGM-183A hypersonic missile has a range of 1,000 miles (1,600 km). Its speed is not disclosed by the American military, it is only indicated that it will be more than Mach 8. The missiles of this type are planned primarily to equip strategic bombers B-52H, each of which will be able to carry four AGM-183A.
As reported by the Office of Advanced Research Projects of the US Department of Defense (DARPA), at the end of September, the first successful test of an American hypersonic missile was carried out as part of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) program. According to reports, the missile, being developed by the Raytheon Corporation, was launched from an F-18 fighter-bomber. Flight testing focused on testing the hypersonic ramjet propulsion system and thermal management techniques to ensure long-term hypersonic flight. According to DARPA, the rocket developed a speed of Mach 5 (6.1 thousand km per hour).
In terms of speed, range and size, it is inferior to the AGM-183A rocket. However, since the HAWC hypersonic missile is smaller, a strategic bomber can carry more of these missiles, and it can also be carried by a fighter-bomber.
Hypersonic missiles of both types, in particular, are planned to equip strategic bombers with variable sweep wing B-1B Lancer. The first test launches of the HAWC rocket from the B-1B are scheduled for September 2022.
Another key program is the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), which is developing a land-based hypersonic missile for the US Army. The missile's design range is 2775 km.
In total, in the coming fiscal year (starting on October 1 of this year), the administration of US President Joe Biden has allocated $ 3.8 billion for the development, testing and production of hypersonic weapons within the framework of eight separate programs at once.
