US Air Force to Test Hypersonic Missile Capable of Travelling 20 Times Speed of Sound Written 17 March 2021
![B-52-Carries-ARRW-IMV-USAF-Wikipedia-250 B-52-Carries-ARRW-IMV-USAF-Wikipedia-250](/images/default-source/uploadedimages/industry-news/b-52-carries-arrw-imv-usaf-wikipedia-250.png?sfvrsn=45b1d2dd_0)
B-52 out of Edwards Air Force Base carries a prototype AGM-183A for its first captive carry flight. | Credit: U.S. Air Force, Christopher Okula; Wikipedia; Public Domain
The Daily Mail reports that the US Air Force is preparing to test its new hypersonic missile “that is said to be capable of flying 20 times the speed of sound.” The test will take place sometime this month and will have a B-52H bomber carry an AGM-183A missile “high into the air and launch it at more than five times the speed of sound.” The Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon would then deploy a dummy second state that would “disintegrate” in the atmosphere. This month’s test will only evaluate the missile’s rocket booster. According to the Air Force, the test will “demonstrate the booster’s ability to reach operational speeds and collect other important data.”
Full Story (Daily Mail)