U.S. Department of War
10/27/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/27/2026 11:04
Contract Establishes New Hypersonic Capabilities
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- The Department of the Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $694 million contract for the production and fielding of the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon, Sept. 29, 2026. The contract was executed under the Department of War 's Enterprise-Wide Agile Acquisition Contract to modernize America's Arsenal of Freedom.
This milestone marks the formal transition of the boost-glide hypersonic missile program from prototyping and flight testing into production, solidifying the Air Force's commitment to fielding standoff, high-speed strike options.
"This is a turning point in our advanced weapons roadmap," said Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink. "By moving ARRW from test to production, we're providing our combatant commanders with a credible, high-speed strike weapon capable of penetrating the most advanced anti-access and area-denial systems."
Designed to accelerate to speeds exceeding Mach 5 using a solid-fuel rocket booster before releasing a hypersonic glide vehicle, ARRW will enable Air Force assets to strike time-sensitive, heavily defended and high-value targets from standoff ranges.
"Fielding ARRW enhances our ability to hold targets at risk anywhere around the world," said Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Ken Wilsbach. "This hypersonic weapon provides the Joint Force a flexible and rapid response option for highly contested environments."
Further details regarding quantities and delivery dates will not be released to protect Operational Security.
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