Up, Up & Not Away: Why US Is Failing With Its Hypersonic Program While Arch-Rivals – Russia & China Zoom Ahead?
In a major setback, the US Air Force’s second attempt to conduct the flight test of a hypersonic weapon proved to be a dud. The two successive failures perhaps explain why the US military is lagging in harnessing hypersonic technology while its arch-rival Russia has zoomed past.
The test involved a prototype of the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), a hypersonic missile. The missile was able to successfully separate from the B-52H bomber which was carrying it, however, the rocket engine did not ignite.
“The Air Force conducted its second AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon booster flight test on July 28. While it did not meet all flight objectives, the test demonstrated several first-time events as the program continues to track toward fielding a hypersonic capability in the early 2020s,” a statement issued by the Eglin Air Force Base said.
The latest test was conducted on July 28 over the Point Mugu Sea Range in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Southern California and the outcome was announced by the US Air Force on July 30.
