The AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon Instrumented Measurement Vehicle 2 underwent a captive-carry flight test while being carried by the aircraft.
The Air Force reported that a completely functional hypersonic missile prototype was recently launched by a US bomber.
On Friday, the B-52H Stratofortress fired the missile while circling near the California coast. On Friday, the B-52H Stratofortress fired the missile while circling near the California coast.

The US Air Force stated Monday that a B-52H Stratofortress bomber successfully launched a fully operational air-launched hypersonic missile. After numerous programme failures and setbacks, the test was successful.

The aircraft made an all-up-round AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) release on Friday while flying off the coast of California, according to a statement from the Air Force. After being launched from the B-52, the missile reached speeds greater than five times the speed of sound, which is necessary for a weapon to be classified hypersonic, finished its flight along a predetermined path, and exploded in the intended target area, according to the Air Force. 

A fully functional air-launched hypersonic missile prototype was successfully launched for the first time during this test. Prior testing concentrated on the effectiveness of rocket boosters, with the first successful booster test taking place in May.

In five years, the ARRW team successfully developed and tested an air-launched hypersonic missile, according to Brig. Gen. Jason Bartolomei, programme executive officer for the Armament Directorate. 'I am incredibly pleased of the persistence and dedication this team has demonstrated to give our warfighter a crucial capability,' the author said. 

This most recent successful flight test 'proves the Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRWdesign )'s and demonstrates its potential at hypersonic speeds,' according to weapon manufacturer Lockheed Martin. The ARRW is a conventional stand-off hypersonic weapon that can be launched from a B-52 bomber and is 'designed to attack high-value, time-sensitive, land-based targets,' according to the US military's Office of the Director for Operational Test and Evaluation.

The programme had conducted 'developing ground and flight tests establishing appropriate interface integration with the B-52H aircraft,' according to that same report, which was focused on work in 2021, but it had “not yet proved the essential warfighting capability.”