And the signaling continues alongside the arms race.
The US Air Force tested a new hypersonic missile on one of its oldest bombers, the B-52H, in the Pacific this past weekend, a major moment for the weapon. The recent test is the first of its kind by the US in the Western Pacific, a demonstration of strength in an often-tense region, particularly due to
increasingly aggressive behavior by China. An Air Force spokesperson told Business Insider on Wednesday, that "a B-52 Stratofortress conducted a test of the All-Up-Round AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon."
"This test," the spokesman said, "launched a full prototype operational hypersonic missile and focused on the ARRW's end-to-end performance. The test took place at the Reagan Test Site with the B-52 taking off from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on March 17, 2024, local time."
Andersen Air Force Base in Guam is a key US military position in the Pacific and regularly hosts Air Force bombers for regional operations. This launch of the ARRW marks the first time the US has tested a
hypersonic weapon in the Pacific.
Anderson Air Force Base is also a recently declared target by Mr. Kim's government as they conducted their latest rocket tests.
I have been singing this song on the way to work of late:
OK, as requested.