ARRW (AGM-183A) Glide Vehicle

Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin
Category: Glide Vehicle
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Hypersonic Speed Mach 20–27 (some sources claim up to Mach 15–20)
Maneuverable Glide Path Yes
Boost-Glide Launch Yes
Extreme Thermal Protection Composite / specialized materials to withstand high temperatures (design feature common to HGVs)

Full Specifications

1. General Information

Name / Designation	AGM-183A ARRW
Type	Air-launched hypersonic glide vehicle missile
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin
Country of Origin	United States
Role / Purpose	Long-range, rapid strike against high-value, heavily defended targets
Operational Status	Developmental / testing; procurement not yet confirmed

2. Physical Characteristics

Length	~6.7 m (22 ft)
Body Design	Wedge-shaped glide vehicle with protective nose-cone (boost-glide design)
Material	Composite / heat-resistant materials (typical for HGVs)
Launch Platform	B-52H Stratofortress (tested); B-1B Lancer, F-15E/EX (planned)
Payload Capacity	Single warhead (kinetic / fragmentation) integrated in glide vehicle

3. Propulsion & Performance

Propulsion Type	Solid-fuel rocket booster + unpowered glide vehicle
Speed	Mach 5+ baseline; some sources claim up to Mach 20–27 in optimal conditions
Range	Approx. 1,600 km (≈1,000 miles) in many sources
Maneuverability	Yes — glide-vehicle capable of trajectory adjustments during glide phase
Flight Profile	Air-launch at high altitude → booster rocket → separation → unpowered hypersonic glide toward target

4. Navigation & Guidance

Guidance System	Not publicly disclosed / unspecified in open sources
Terminal Guidance	Not clearly disclosed — booster-glide design suggests likely inertial + possible onboard sensors (unknown)
Accuracy (CEP)	Not publicly confirmed
Counter-Jamming	Not publicly confirmed — uncertain in open information

5. Warhead & Payload

Warhead Type	Tungsten fragmentation warhead (or kinetic-energy effect)
Explosive Yield	Not publicly disclosed — design emphasis on kinetic/fragmentation lethality rather than high-yield nuclear payload
Penetration Ability	High kinetic energy + fragmentation warhead aimed at destroying high-value, hardened, or defended targets — precise penetration data not public

6. Survivability & Defensive Features

Thermal Protection	Materials and heat-shielding typical of hypersonic glide vehicles to withstand extreme heating during reentry/glide phase (design-standard)
Stealth Features	No public confirmation of low-observable coatings; glide-vehicle design and high-altitude flight may help reduce radar signature indirectly
Anti-Interception Ability	High-speed, high-altitude boost-glide trajectory designed to evade current air-defense systems and reduce interception window

Our Rating

The overall rating is based on review by our experts

8.3

Maintenance Efficiency 9 / 10
Performance 8 / 10
Technology 8 / 10
Reliability & Maintenance 8 / 10

PROS

Extremely high speed (hypersonic) — reduces target reaction time.
Long standoff range — enables strike from outside enemy air-defense envelope.
Maneuverable glide — complicates interception by current missile defense systems.
Air-launched from bombers — offers flexibility and reach.
Kinetic-energy impact (or conventional warhead) — highly destructive potential at high velocity.

CONS

Program has faced repeated technical challenges and delays.
Uncertainty over full operational deployment and procurement status.
Unknown terminal guidance and sensor performance — risk of lack of precision or reliability.
Dependence on large bomber platforms — limits deployment flexibility compared with smaller missiles.
High unit cost — expensive compared with conventional long-range weapons.

ARRW (AGM-183A) Hypersonic Glide Vehicle

The AGM-183A — also known as ARRW (Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon) — represents a bold leap in hypersonic strike capability for the U.S. Air Force. Developed by Lockheed Martin, ARRW is engineered to deliver rapid, long-range, high-speed strikes against heavily defended or time-sensitive targets.

ARRW uses a boost-glide design: a solid-fuel rocket booster propels the weapon to hypersonic speeds at high altitude, after which it releases a non-powered glide vehicle that maneuvers toward its target. This architecture makes interception by standard air-defense systems far more difficult than with traditional ballistic or cruise missiles.

Originally intended for deployment from strategic bombers such as the B-52H Stratofortress — and potentially future integration on platforms like the B-1B Lancer or F-15E Strike Eagle — ARRW offers standoff strike capabilities that expand U.S. reach and deterrence.

Capabilities & Performance

During testing, ARRW demonstrated successful booster ignition, glide-vehicle separation, and target impact following real-world release — most notably on December 9, 2022, when a full-up weapon completed its flight path and detonated on target. Its glide phase, enabled by hypersonic velocity and maneuverability, is designed to defeat advanced missile defenses.

However, the program has faced significant technical and developmental challenges: multiple test failures, booster-ignition problems, and delays have slowed any path to formal procurement and deployment.

Despite this, renewed interest surfaced in 2025 as the Air Force weighed reviving ARRW — reflecting the continuing strategic need for long-range, high-speed strike weapons in a contested global environment.

ARRW (AGM-183A) Glide Vehicle Price in United State

The estimated unit cost for ARRW is in the range of US $15–18 million per missile (when produced) according to available public data.

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