US Air Force Hints Revival of once repudiated AGM-183 Missile Program.

The US Air Force has reaffirmed to resume efforts in procuring the AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) hypersonic missile, reversing its prior stance that the weapon would not be acquired. This shift was alluded to by US Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, in which he discussed budget proposals related to hypersonic weaponry. Allvin’s statement followed changes in prioritisation between the ARRW development program and the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM), another modern capability that offers greater altitude coverage, speed, and flexibility compared to the AGM-183.

The ARRW has already undergone multiple trials, adding data about its performance and operability. Last year, the air force conducted the weapon’s unofficial final test and said the collective evaluations will be used for “continued development of advanced hypersonic systems”.

Following suspension of the initiative, the air force’s fiscal 2025 budget request allocated $517 million for HACM development, with no funds designated for the ARRW program.

It was David Allvin who has cited at the recent legislative meeting, “I will tell you that we are developing — and you’ll see in the budget submission, assuming it’s what we put forward — two different programs. One is a larger form factor that is more strategic long range that we have already tested several times — it’s called ARRW”.

‘Affordable’ Weapon –

US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink also commented on the ARRW program’s potential continuation, saying that it would be part of a cost-effective hypersonic weapons initiative designed for mass production. “It’s got to be affordable”, the official stated. “We’ve got to be able to buy more than 10 of these things. A big focus right now is ramping up the production and lowering the cost so we can get enough of that kit to actually make a difference”.

In 2023, the Congressional Budget Office estimated the cost of the ARRW at $14.9 million apiece, with approximately $5.3 billion to cover procurement and sustainment projected over a period of 20 years.

The AGM-183 ARRW –

The ARRW uses a boost-glide canister propelled by a rocket motor before hitting an enemy asset. It is designed to arm an aircraft, particularly the US military’s bomber fleet, as well as F-15Es, to neutralise ground-based adversaries. The missile is planned to have a range of 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) and top speed above Mach 7 (5,371 miles / 8,644 kilometres per hour).

Team Maverick.