The Air Force said that it is planning to test the booster for a hypersonic missile that is designed to one day travel at more than 20 times the speed of sound. The test, which will take place sometime this month, will have a B-52H bomber carry an AGM-183A missile high into the air and launch it at more than five times the speed of sound
* US Air Force set to test booster of hypersonic missile sometime this month
* AGM-183A missile is scheduled to be operational sometime in 2022
* This month's test will see booster travel at more than five times speed of sound
* It will then deploy a dummy second stage that will 'disintegrate' in atmosphere
* AGM-183A is considered first hypersonic weapon in American military arsenal
* Its speed and low altitude flight path make it difficult to intercept
The United States Air Force is preparing to test launch its new hypersonic missile that is said to be capable of flying 20 times the speed of sound.
The Air Force said that the booster test, which will take place sometime this month, will have a B-52H bomber carry an AGM-183A missile high into the air and launch it at more than five times the speed of sound.
The missile, an Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), would then deploy a dummy second stage that would ‘disintegrate’ somewhere in the atmosphere.
The upcoming test this month will only test the missile’s rocket booster rather than the missile as a whole.
Read more ....
Update #1: Air Force About to Make First Hypersonic Missile Flight, After Recent Failure (Air Force Magazine)
Update #2: The Air Force Says Its First Hypersonic Missile Will Make Its Inaugural Flight Within 30 Days (Warzone/The Drive)
WNU Editor: This is now an arms race .... Air Force Prepares Latest Hypersonic Missile Test Amid Arms Race With China, Russia (Newsweek).
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