The US Air Force is considering a renewed interest in the AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) hypersonic missile program, indicating a shift in its previous position of not pursuing the weapon. This change was highlighted by US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin during a recent session of the House Armed Services Committee, where he addressed budgetary aspects related to hypersonic capabilities.
Allvin’s remarks coincided with a reassessment of priorities between the ARRW and the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM), the latter providing greater altitude, speed, and overall flexibility. While the ARRW has already gone through numerous test trials, contributing valuable insights into its performance and functionality, it faced a pause in funding. Last year, the Air Force labeled the weapon’s last test as unofficial and stated that the evaluations would assist in the ongoing development of advanced hypersonic systems.
In the fiscal 2025 budget proposal, $517 million was earmarked for HACM development with no allocations for the ARRW. Nevertheless, Allvin noted, “We are developing — and you’ll see in the budget submission … two different programs.” He described the ARRW as a “larger form factor that is more strategic long range” and emphasized that it had been tested multiple times.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink also weighed in on the future of the ARRW initiative, stressing its role in a cost-effective hypersonic weapons program aimed at scalability. He remarked, “It’s got to be affordable … 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.”
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the estimated cost for an ARRW missile stands at approximately $14.9 million each, with a projected overall expenditure of around $5.3 billion for procurement and maintenance over two decades.
The AGM-183 explores advanced technology through a boost-glide mechanism, propelled by a rocket motor, before striking enemy targets. It is specifically designed to equip aircraft, particularly the US military’s bomber fleet and F-15Es, to engage ground-based adversaries. The missile is projected to have a range of 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) and can achieve speeds exceeding Mach 7 (5,371 miles/8,644 kilometers per hour).
