The ARRW hypersonic missile is headed into production under a $694 million U.S. Air Force contract awarded to Lockheed Martin, marking a sharp reversal from the service’s 2023 move to cancel the program.
The deal, executed September 29 and announced today, transitions the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon from prototyping and flight testing to production. The Air Force did not disclose how many missiles are covered or delivery timelines. The service has previously said it plans to integrate ARRW on B-52 and B-1 bombers, and other large aircraft could potentially carry the weapon or future variants.
According to an Air Force statement, the award was issued under the Department of the Air Force’s enterprise agile acquisition vehicle and “solidifies the Air Force’s commitment to fielding standoff, high-speed strike options.”
How the ARRW hypersonic missile works
ARRW is a boost-glide system. A rocket motor accelerates the weapon to high speed and altitude, after which the nose cone separates to release a wedge-shaped, unpowered glide vehicle.
That vehicle then travels within the atmosphere at hypersonic speed, generally above Mach 5, on a relatively shallow trajectory and can maneuver in flight. The combination of speed, path, and maneuvering complicates detection, tracking, and interception, making the weapon well suited for penetrating air defenses to strike time-sensitive or high-value targets.
“By moving ARRW from test to production, we’re providing our combatant commanders with a credible, high-speed strike weapon capable of penetrating the most advanced anti-access and area-denial systems,” Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach called the weapon a “flexible and rapid response option for highly contested environments.”
From near-cancellation to revival
The Air Force’s decision follows a troubled early test record and a 2023 plan to cancel ARRW and shift emphasis to the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile, an air-breathing system that operates differently and remains in development with flight testing underway.
Budget documents since then signaled ARRW’s resurgence. The service’s Fiscal Year 2026 request rebooted funding to procure missiles, and the FY 2027 request outlined Increment 2 plans that include integrating a terminal seeker, data link capability, and other upgrades, along with cost reduction initiatives and testing.
A separate FY 2027 request sought $296 million for the design, test, and evaluation of ARRW Increment 2, specifically citing the terminal seeker and data link.
Officials have also indicated a future variant designed to engage moving targets, including warships.
Operational context and future variants for the ARRW hypersonic missile
Air Force leaders have consistently framed hypersonic weapons as vital for potential high-end conflicts, particularly in the Pacific. In 2024, a B-52 flying from Andersen Air Force Base on Guam launched an AGM-183A with a live warhead, underscoring the weapon’s relevance to Pacific deterrence plans.
An anti-ship Increment 2 variant would further bolster long-range maritime strike options against high-value vessels and other mobile targets. Such capabilities would complement broader U.S. efforts to counter growing anti-access and area-denial systems and rapidly address time-critical threats.
While China continues to expand its inventory of hypersonic systems and ballistic missiles, including air-launched types, the Air Force’s latest award confirms that ARRW is moving ahead.
Three years after charting a path to cancel the program, the service has now placed its first production order.