The U.S. Air Force is looking to revive its previously shelved AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) hypersonic program and even move it into the procurement phase. Air Force Commander Gen. David Allvin told lawmakers at a hearing last week that the service wants to include funding for both the ARRW and the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) in its fiscal year 2026 budget proposal.
Two Hypersonic Programs in One
“We’re looking at it, and in the budget presentation — assuming it’s what we’re proposing — there are two different [hypersonic] programs,” Allvin told the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday. “One is larger, strategically long-range, a form factor that we’ve tested a couple of times before. It’s called ARRW, and the other is HACM,” Allvin said.
Hypersonic weapons, Ability to move faster than five times the speed of sound and because they are capable of maneuvering in flight, they are harder to track and shoot down than conventional ballistic missiles and have a greater ability to penetrate enemy defenses. China and Russia's large investments in hypersonic research, and Russia's use of hypersonic weapons in Ukraine, have increased pressure on U.S. military services to develop their own hypersonic capabilities.
Past and Future of ARRW
The Air Force had viewed the ARRW, an accelerated glide weapon made by Lockheed Martin, as a promising option for developing hypersonic weapons that could match the programs of China and Russia. But the future of the ARRW was in doubt after failed tests in late 2022 and early 2023. Then-acquisition chief Andrew Hunter told lawmakers in March 2023 that the Air Force did not plan to purchase ARRW missiles after the prototype phase ended, which would spell big trouble for the program.
The Air Force's fiscal year 2024 budget request, released in March 2025, included no funding for procurement or research and development for the ARRW. The service completed the prototype phase for the ARRW in 2024.
But Gen. Allvin told lawmakers last week that the service is moving both ARRW and HACM beyond research and development. “in the very near future supply range” “We are rapidly advancing in the development of not only the technology but also the supply of the capabilities it will create,” Allvin said.
Production and Cost Oriented Approach
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told lawmakers at the same hearing that the Air Force has matured its hypersonic technology and now needs to focus on reducing costs and getting the systems into production. “It has to be affordable. We need to be able to buy more than 10 of these. A big focus right now is ramping up production and getting the cost down so that we can get enough of this kit to really make a difference,” Meink said, emphasizing the importance of not only advancing the technology of hypersonic weapons but also making them accessible and available in sufficient numbers.
