By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization
The US Air Force is again preparing to fire off its Air Launched Rapid Response hypersonic attack missile in what could be explained as an effort to preserve or even “resurrect” the weapon.
Following developmental and testing challenges, progress with the ARRW had previously come to a temporary, yet disappointing halt, a development generating speculation that indeed the US may remain behind Russia and China in the realm of air-launched hypersonics.
Not so fast, senior Pentagon and Air Force weapons developers say, as there are several indications that the weapon may indeed emerge as an extremely valuable asset for airwar concepts of operation. The ARRW, senior weapons developers describe, is a hypersonic boost-glide weapon that provides long-range air-to-surface precision guided prompt strike capability from standoff ranges, the Air Force Military Deputy for Acquisition told lawmakers.
“It consists of a Solid-Rocket Motor booster, a protective shroud, and a glider containing a fragmenting warhead,” Lt. Gen. Dale R. White Military Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition, Technology & Logistics), told Congress’ Strategic Forces Subcommittee, according to a transcript of his testimony.
White explained that additional prototype flight tests are coming up, developments which will refine final assembly for the All-Up Round and fire off a full operational prototype of the missile. Many of the specific lessons learns and benefits of recent ARRW testing are not available in a public format for security reasons, White explained, yet he did indicate cause for considerable optimism regarding the future prospects for the weapon.
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“While future ARRW decisions are pending final analysis of all flight test data, the service is pleased to report that the ARRW rapid prototyping program has a categorical success to date. Though specific test objectives and the complexities of the program cannot be provided in an unclassified forum. These tests acquired valuable, unique data and were intended to further a range of hypersonic programs,” White told lawmakers.
The merits of hypersonic air attack need little explanation, as an ability to precisely attack ground targets from stand-off ranges at five times the speed of sound introduces unprecedented tactical advantages, yet there are many challenging variables associated with hypersonic flight. A weapon must not only “achieve” hypersonic speed but also sustain hypersonic speeds for the duration of its flight trajectory. Keeping a missile intact and stable while traveling at hypersonic speeds is also quite difficult due to temperature and atmospheric variables. A weapon or projectile must be able to withstand the tremendous heat associated with flying at hypersonic speeds, and it must be configured aerodynamically such that it maintains stable flight with a laminar or “smooth” air flight boundary layer. Should the boundary layer, or air flow surrounding the projectile be turbulent, molecules can shift positions and the weapon can become unstable and fly off course.
The arrival of ARRW can’t come soon enough given the threat equation, as China has not only test-fired a Naval YJ-21 hypersonic missile but flown an air-launched variant on its H-6K bomber, according to the Chinese government backed Global Times newspaper.
Kris Osborn is President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University
