So, the USAF is giving the hypersonic missile thing another shot with a $694 million deal for the ARRW. After a bunch of ups and downs, Lockheed Martin's got the green light to produce these missiles. We're talking about some serious speed here - over Mach 5! The ARRW will first be strapped onto the B-52s, and it's designed to hit high-value targets from a good distance away.
It's been a rollercoaster for this program. Failed tests and funding hiccups were a thing, but they managed to nail a successful flight in 2022. Now, it seems like the Air Force is back on board with the idea. The B-1 bomber might even get in on the action too.
But here's what I'm curious about - how many of these missiles are they actually gonna make? And what about the timeline for getting these fully operational? Anyone else think this could change the game for USAF's strike capabilities, or is it still too early to call?
It's been a rollercoaster for this program. Failed tests and funding hiccups were a thing, but they managed to nail a successful flight in 2022. Now, it seems like the Air Force is back on board with the idea. The B-1 bomber might even get in on the action too.
But here's what I'm curious about - how many of these missiles are they actually gonna make? And what about the timeline for getting these fully operational? Anyone else think this could change the game for USAF's strike capabilities, or is it still too early to call?