Missile AGM-183 ARRW

The AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) is an air-launched hypersonic boost-glide missile developed for the United States Air Force. Development began in August 2018 with the award of a development contract, followed by an initial captive carry flight test on a B-52 bomber in June 2019. Although the program was paused following a lack of funding in the fiscal year 2025 budget, the U.S. Air Force announced plans in 2025 to fund the system in the fiscal year 2026 budget to initiate procurement. The fiscal year 2027 budget request introduced plans for an Increment 2 variant featuring undisclosed capability enhancements.

The AGM-183 utilizes a boost-glide system. A solid rocket motor propels the weapon to hypersonic speeds exceeding Mach 5, after which the glide vehicle detaches to glide toward its target. The system is capable of receiving target data remotely while in flight. For deployment, the missile is integrated onto strategic bomber platforms. The B-52 Stratofortress is slated to carry the missile on external pylons, and the B-1B Lancer is funded to serve as both a test platform and an operational carrier.

The missile is intended for operational deployment by the United States Air Force and has no record of combat use. Flight testing conducted at the Point Mugu Sea Range and Edwards Air Force Base involved several failed launch attempts, including booster ignition failures in April, July, and December 2021, as well as a failed prototype test in March 2023. Successful test events include the first successful booster test on May 14, 2022, which confirmed clean aircraft separation and booster ignition, and the first complete All-Up-Round test on December 9, 2022. The final planned end-to-end test of the initial prototype series was conducted on March 17, 2024, from Andersen Air Force Base.