"US Conducts Successful Hypersonic Missile Test in Pacific Amid Rising Tensions with China and Russia"

The US Air Force conducted its first hypersonic cruise missile test in the Pacific, signaling its commitment to competing with China and Russia in the hypersonic weapons arena. The test involved the All-Up-Round AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) and was aimed at high-value, time-sensitive, land-based targets. Hypersonic glide vehicles travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, making them difficult to detect and intercept, and both China and Russia have made significant advancements in hypersonic technology. The future of the ARRW program is uncertain, but there are indications that the Defense Department may reconsider its stance in light of China and Russia's progress.