US fires hypersonic missile amid Putin’s sabre-rattling

THE US Air Force has carried out its first successful full test of a new hypersonic missile as it looks to claw back ground in a superpower arms race with Russia and China.

The missile, an All-up-round AGM183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) was fired off the coast of southern California and travelled at more than five times the speed of sound, before detonating in a controlled area.

The successful launch from a B-52H Stratofortress aircraft, is a significant step towards the United States having fully operational hypersonic weapons that could be used in conflict or as a deterrent.

China reportedly fired a hypersonic projectile around the globe in a test last year, while in May a Russian warship launched a Zircon missile that can travel at nine times the speed of sound.

Russia has already unleashed its latest Kinzhal hypersonic missile on Ukraine but the US’S attempts to develop the weapons have been hampered by previous failed tests.

The flight trajectory of a hypersonic missile is much flatter and lower than the high arching path of a ballistic missile, making it harder to detect and intercept. The warhead can detach and glide towards the target at speeds of 3,800mph or more.

“The ARRW team successfully designed and tested an air-launched hypersonic missile in five years,” said Brigadier General Jason Bartolomei.

“I am immensely proud of the dedication this team has shown to provide a

‘The team successfully designed and tested an air-launched hypersonic missile in five years’

vital capability to our war-fighter.”

The test comes after Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, vowed last week that any country that dared attack Russia with nuclear weapons would be wiped from the face of the earth.

Mr Putin said Russia had no mandate to launch a preventative first nuclear strike, unlike the US, but that his country’s advanced hypersonic weapons would ensure it could respond forcefully if it ever came under attack.