US Achieves First Successful Test Flight of Hypersonic Missile Prototype... Intensifying Competition with China and Russia

Overcoming Three Failures to Succeed... Ready for Field Deployment
Intensifying Hypersonic Missile Development Race Among the US, China, and Russia

[Image source=US Air Force]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. Air Force announced that it has successfully conducted the first prototype test launch of a hypersonic missile. After three failed attempts last year, the successful test launch indicates that the missile is expected to be deployed in the field soon. The arms race with China and Russia, which are known to have completed the deployment of hypersonic missiles three years ago, is expected to intensify further.

According to CNN on the 12th (local time), the U.S. Air Force announced in a press release that it successfully conducted the first prototype test launch of the hypersonic missile AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW). The Air Force stated that on the 9th, a fully prototyped AGM-183A missile mounted on a B-52H strategic bomber was launched off the coast of California.

The test flight was conducted by the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The missile separated from the B-52H, reached hypersonic speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound, completed its flight path, and exploded in the terminal area, meeting all target objectives, according to the U.S. Air Force.

With this, the U.S. Air Force is evaluated to have succeeded in developing a combat-ready hypersonic missile after three consecutive failures since last year. Brigadier General Jason Bartolomey, who led the test flight, emphasized, "The ARRW team designed and tested a hypersonic missile in five years," adding, "I am proud of the team's dedication."

Hypersonic missiles are weapons capable of flying at speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound while performing evasive maneuvers during flight, making them impossible to intercept with existing missile defense (MD) systems. They are called a 'Game Changer' in the defense sector.

However, some critics argue that the U.S. is lagging behind China and Russia, which announced the deployment of hypersonic missiles after 2019. Russia revealed that it first used hypersonic missiles in combat during its attack on Ukraine, and China disclosed last July that it hit a terrestrial target thousands of kilometers away using a hypersonic weapon in Earth orbit.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.