User:Chetsford/agm

The AGM-183A ARRW (air launched rapid response weapon) is a prototype hypersonic weapon planned for use by the United States Air Force. Developed by Lockheed Martin, the missile has a reported maximum speed of Mach 20. It has been theorized to be the "Super-Duper Missile" referred to by President of the United States Donald Trump during a May 2020 press availability.

Development and acquisition
In August 2018 the U.S. Air Force awarded a $480 million contract to Lockheed Martin for the development of an air-launched hypersonic weapon. The resulting missile, the AGM-183A ARRW ("Arrow"), underwent an initial captive carry flight test aboard a U.S. Air Force B-52 in June 2019.

In February 2020, the Trump Administration proposed a 23 percent increase in funding for hypersonic weapons and, the same month, the U.S. Air Force announced it had decided to move forward with acquisition of the AGM-183A.

In March 2020, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Michael D. Griffin stated that the United States was "close at hand" to having a hypersonic boost-glide weapon ready to field.

Theorized relation to the "Super-Duper Missile"
A "Super-Duper Missile "was announced by President of the United States Donald Trump during a press availability in the Oval Office on 15 May 2020. According to Trump, the Super-Duper Missile is 17 times faster than existing missiles in the United States arsenal, however, Kingston Reif of the Arms Control Association believes the claim may have been a misstatement. Nick Schifrin has theorized that the Super-Duper Missile is, in fact, the AGM-183A, as has the China Times.

Design and performance
The AGM-183A has a maximum speed of 15,345 miles per hour.

The weapon uses a boost-glide system, in which it is propelled to hypersonic speed by a rocket on which it's mounted before gliding towards a target. According to Popular Mechanics, the U.S. Air Force was, as of April 2020, considering using the remaining fleet of B-1B bombers as AGM-183A firing platforms, with each aircraft carrying up to 31 of the weapons mounted internally and on external pylons.