n testing an American hypersonic missile

n testing an American hypersonic missile

From March 13 to 14, on the Pacific coast of the United States off the coast of California, along the standard route of the western Vandenberg missile range, another test of missile weapons, most likely, the AGM-183 ARRW hypersonic air-launched cruise missile (ALCM), took place.

In this area, during the launch of the ALCM, the E-4B NAOC air command post was operating, as well as two aircraft of the US missile defense agency Gulfstream, converted into a stratospheric observatory to monitor the testing of the latest missile weapons.

Before that, the aeronautical information center sent out a warning about the reservation of an air corridor west of Los Angeles. Similar messages were received from the US hydrographic service NAVAREA XII, according to which sailors were prohibited from moving inside three squares where debris could fall.

🔻 How far has the US progressed in the development of the hypersonic program?

Back in 2021, the Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) almost regularly reported on failures in the creation of new generation missiles. However, the latest launches were successful: the last test of a HAWC-type hypersonic missile was carried out on January 18 from the same test site.

The Pentagon has now requested $150 million for fiscal year 2024 to complete the development of Lockheed Martin's AGM-183 ARRW, as well as $384 million to develop the HAWC-based HACM hypersonic cruise missile. Raytheon will be involved in the creation of advanced HACM weapons.

Also, $944 million was requested from Congress to continue development of the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) hypersonic missile project, the declared range of which should be 2,700 km.

So far, DARPA has not announced specific results from the AGM-183 test. However, given the high activity of the missile defense agency aircraft, we can say that the test most likely took place. At the same time, the Pentagon planned to launch the ARRW at least once before mass production.

🔻Perspectives

The development of hypersonic weapons is becoming a priority in many countries due to the high prospects for the use of such missiles and the de facto lack of opposition from air defense and missile defense. The former advantage of the Russian Army in the development of this program is leveled over time.

Now China has similar developments, it is announced (https://t.me/rybar/44014) in Iran, and the Americans are in full swing testing various types of hypersonic missiles, investing hundreds of millions of dollars in their modernization and improvement.

In the current realities of the Russian defense industry, it is necessary not only to put the production of "Daggers" on stream and equip units with them, but also to develop alternative types of strategic offensive weapons.

At the same time, against the backdrop of the successes of the United States and the active financing by the Americans of their developments, it is necessary to look for ways to counteract the latest weapons. So far, none of the anti-aircraft missile systems in service with both the RF Armed Forces and the armies of other countries is capable of intercepting hypersonic missiles.

The appearance of such in the ranks of the American air force will mark a new stage in the confrontation between the opposing states, and this should be prepared in advance.

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