AGM-183A Weapons Test?

[ORAC]

https://www.twz.com/air/unprecedented-u-s-hypersonic-weapon-test-in-west-pacific-appears-imminent

Unprecedented U.S. Hypersonic Weapon Test In West Pacific Appears Imminent

Signs are growing that the U.S. Air Force is about to conduct another live-fire test of its AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon hypersonic missile, or ARRW, but this time staged from Guam.….

[Lonewolf_50]

The arms race is alive and well.

[ORAC]

https://x.com/masao_dahlgren/status/1784628086291497363?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A


Weber at the @ACI_Conferences Hypersonic Weapons Symposium. Says ARRW completed flight test campaign, was "categorical success, despite what you hear in the press" with performance "exceed[ing] requirements" in 4 of 5 successful tests.

USAF Chief Scientist Victoria Coleman later noted ARRW was "the most mature weapon that we have"

Disclosed previous unreported successful Tactical Boost Glide flight test on Dec 8, 2020, over the Pacific, "an amazing day."

Was coy on whether ARRW was fully zeroed out.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1213x910/image_cde1599d10b3f85b44dcc6d7f052076f5a51f629.png

[ORAC]

https://x.com/masao_dahlgren/status/1784628089076494508?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A


Progress continuing on HACM, Congress and Global Strike Command apparently "huge fans and can't wait" for it to be in inventory. flight test next year will happen in Australia.

This is why AUKUS matters.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/908x683/image_f74a0fad2ca5c616fd831c13eaf71679553b9e5e.png

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/911x683/image_22969a8e601fa081011723b1f05aec31213d7932.png
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[ORAC]

https://x.com/masao_dahlgren/status/1784628093480567129?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A


Growing recognition that full-scale testing mostly stalled by non-hypersonic stuff. Booster-didn't-start, fin-fell-off-type issues. Increasing emphasis on component testing to burn that risk down.

Weber notes biggest hypersonic cost driver is solid rocket motors, "to be honest".

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/911x683/image_e009c6065444bd996a51bafcbed1f370cbc2ab69.png
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[T28B]

As neither mod nor admin:
Is HACM pronounced as "Hack 'em" or otherwise?

[Asturias56]

well it may be hypersonic but its still being lugged around by a 60+ year old airframe.......................

[MPN11]

well it may be hypersonic but its still being lugged around by a 60+ year old airframe.......................
.... and how grateful we are that those airframes still exist! :ok:

[ORAC]

well it may be hypersonic but its still being lugged around by a 60+ year old airframe.......................
Trigger’s broom…..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus

[Asturias56]

"... and how grateful we are that those airframes still exist! "

Bill Gunston got most things right but in "Jet Bombers" 1993:-

"The story of the B-52 is unique ........... To do as much Sopwith Camels would have had to remain operational to 1968. Now the bombers are fading away at last."

And 30 years on we only wish we had a few more; that would take the Camel analogy to 1999................. :ok: