// UNMANNED SYSTEMS AND NEXT-GEN WARFARE TERM
AGM-183
The AGM-183 ARRW was a U.S. Air Force program to develop a hypersonic missile launched from an aircraft. It was designed to travel at over five times the speed of sound, using a boost-glide vehicle to strike time-sensitive targets from a long distance.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
The AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) was a prototype hypersonic boost-glide weapon system developed by Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force (USAF), intended for launch from strategic bombers like the B-52. The program aimed to provide a conventional, air-launched, standoff hypersonic strike capability against high-value surface targets, but was cancelled in 2023 after mixed test results.
BACKGROUND
The AGM-183 ARRW is a hypersonic air-to-ground ballistic missile planned for use by the United States Air Force. Developed by Lockheed Martin, the boost-glide vehicle is propelled to a maximum speed of more than Mach 5 by a rocket motor before gliding toward its target. The program was initially cancelled in March 2023 after multiple failed tests and despite multiple announced cancellations and resumptions of development, development has quietly continued and in 2025 the Air Force announced plans to fund ARRW in FY 2026, with the intent to begin procurement. In 2026, the Air Force announced that its FY 27 budget would include funding for an Increment 2 variant of ARRW with undisclosed enhanced capabilities. Simultaneously, they announced plans for life-extension modifications to the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bomber, developing it as a "standoff" strike weapon, fitting it with external pylons capable of carrying up to 6 AGM-183 missiles per aircraft.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- ARRW
- Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon
- Arrow missile
- AGM-183A
USAGE NOTE
While the program was cancelled, 'AGM-183' is often used as a key reference point in discussions about U.S. hypersonic weapon development and its challenges.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to AGM-183.
The prime contractor responsible for the design, development, and production of the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) system for the U.S. Air Force.
The primary scientific research and development center for the U.S. Air Force. AFRL has been instrumental in developing the foundational hypersonic technologies that enabled the ARRW program.
A research and development agency of the U.S. Department of Defense. DARPA's Tactical Boost Glide (TBG) program, a joint effort with the Air Force, was a direct technological precursor to the AGM-183 ARRW.
A major manufacturer of rocket propulsion systems. The company developed and supplied the solid-propellant rocket motor that boosts the AGM-183's glide vehicle to hypersonic speeds.
A major defense contractor that provides advanced systems and components for missiles, including guidance, control, and sensor technologies relevant to hypersonic weapons like the AGM-183.
A global aerospace and defense technology company involved in developing various hypersonic systems, including scramjet propulsion and advanced materials, contributing to the industrial base supporting programs like ARRW.
The U.S. Air Force organization, part of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, responsible for the acquisition, testing, and program management of weapon systems, including the AGM-183 ARRW.