Air Force Reports Successful Test Of Hypersonic Weapon Conducted From Guam Base

(PatriotPostNews.com) – The United States Air Force has announced the completion of a hypersonic weapon test, which was conducted on a military base in Guam.

The missile was tested on March 17, launched from a B-52H Stratofortress—a bombing aircraft manufactured by Boeing—over the Pacific Ocean. A spokesperson for the military branch explained that the test was intended to monitor the “end-to-end performance” of the “full prototype operational” weapon.

According to the statement released by the Air Force, the test provided “valuable insights” about the missile and the abilities of what the military branch described as “new, cutting-edge technology.” More specific details about the test were not disclosed, but the statement added that the test gives “valuable” information that can benefit “a range of hypersonic programs.”

Another comment from an Air Force representative revealed that the recent test was conducted out of Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The test was part of the military branch’s Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) program, which is one of the branch’s two primary projects dedicated to manufacturing a hypersonic weapon that can maneuver easily and fly faster than Mach 5.

Officials with the Air Force reportedly said earlier in March that the test would be the program’s final run, with plans to conclude its prototype test projects in 2024. No funding has been requested to continue the project’s research or development in 2025. Frank Kendall, the secretary of the Air Force, has shown positive expectations for the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) project, which has requested $517 million from the 2025 budget for further development.

The ARRW test comes amid tensions with foreign nations who are also working to master hypersonic weapons, including China and Russia. American military officials are under pressure to boost the nation’s advancements in this area, especially as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un boasted on March 20 that his nation has made its own progress in the manufacturing of a hypersonic missile that is said to be able to reach Guam.