The US may deploy several types of missiles for testing, including the air-launched AGM-183A and AGM-182A. The HCSW project is in question, work on which has been temporarily stopped.
The Pentagon is considering using Australia as a potential test site for its advanced long-range hypersonic and precision weapons. This reasoning arises within a strategic alliance known as AUKUS. The article Bulgarian Military talks about what kind of hypersonic weapons the Americans intend to test .
In this regard, the US Secretary of the Army, Christina Wormuth, emphasized the breadth of Australia’s territorial spaces as one of the key factors in choosing this territory. In addition, the minister emphasized the importance of Australia’s role in the AUKUS alliance, which goes beyond simple financial support.
The authors of the publication note that the AUKUS project is seen as a response to China’s growing military presence and influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The Union is aimed at strengthening security in the region and maintaining the balance of power.
What missiles can the US test
The US is currently developing several types of hypersonic weapons, including the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) and the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW).
The AGM-183A ARRW is a hypersonic air-launched missile that can be launched by a B-52 bomber. The developers claim that the missile is capable of moving at Mach 5 and higher (1,650-1,980 m/s) and hitting targets at long distances.
The missile was successfully test-fired in May 2022, flying nearly 1,600 km over the Point Mugu Naval Missile Range on the US Pacific coast.
The HCSW is another hypersonic missile designed to be launched from the B-52. It can also move at a speed of Mach 5 and above and is designed for long-range strikes on enemy targets. However, we received information that after unsuccessful launches, work on the project was stopped .
The HAWC missile is an air-launched hypersonic cruise missile with a hypersonic jet engine designed to be launched from F-15EX and F-35A/C tactical aircraft. It is known that during the tests the rocket rose to a height of 20 km and traveled a distance of more than 400 km at a speed of Mach 5.
HACM is a joint project of DARPA and Lockheed Martin, which resulted in the creation of the AGM-182A missile. During the latest tests, the air-launched missile developed an average speed of Mach 5 at an altitude of more than 18 km, and covered a distance of more than 560 km under these conditions. The developers said the missile demonstrated “improved characteristics and capabilities.”
In addition to missiles, American engineers are working on the creation of a hypersonic aircraft, but this project is still at the test stage.
It will be recalled that the USA has developed a plan to create a HALO hypersonic aviation offensive anti-ship defense system. The air-launched missile is being developed for the US Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters and is designed to hit surface targets.
Source : focus.ua
