Attempt # 3: another failure of the United States to test the AGM-183A hypersonic missile
The hard road to hypersound
About development hypersonic rockets more and more actively speak in Russia, China and, of course, in the West.
Until recently, it was the United States that was seen as the leader in this area, despite a number of encouraging statements from Russian officials.
Meanwhile, a new failure casts doubt on this thesis. Moreover, we are talking about almost the most important of the projects, which should give the American Air Force new tactical and strategic capabilities.
The Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (AGM-183A) missile system was first shown to the public in 2019.
Then the photo showed a mass and size model of a rocket on the external sling of a Boeing B-52H strategic bomber. The pictures were taken during the first test flight, which was recognized as successful (which, of course, was difficult to assess as a successful test of the complex itself, since there were no launches).
At first, the project confidently moved forward: soon there was a lot of new data about the rocket and even its supposed characteristics. It is known that the AGM-183A is a solid-propellant aeroballistic missile equipped with a warhead, the role of which is played by a detachable hypersonic unit.
The US Air Force hoped to conduct three successful tests of the AGM-183 this year in order to take the complex into service as early as 2022. This, obviously, is not worth the wait.
The first flight tests of the new weapons passed on April 5, 2021 over Point Mugu on the California coast. Then the B-52 was unable to launch the missile, and the bomber returned to Edwards AFB.
The second flight test of a promising rocket was carried out on July 28, 2021.
The rocket separated from the carrier aircraft and "successfully demonstrated the complete launch sequence, including turning on the GPS receiver, disconnecting the umbilical cord, and transferring power from the aircraft to the rocket."
In this case, the activation of the rocket engine did not occur.
New tests were conducted on December 15th.
As in the first case, the B-52 bomber successfully took to the skies carrying a new missile, but the launch of the missile failed "due to an unknown problem."
The reasons have not yet been established. Preliminary - malfunction of the rocket launch initiation mechanism.
“The startup sequence was interrupted prior to release due to an unknown issue. The rocket will return to the factory and the telemetry and airborne data analysis will begin immediately. The program will strive to resume flight tests as soon as possible. "
- said Brigadier General of the United States Air Force Heath Collins.
Obviously, the third failure will not add optimism to the US Air Force, although they restrainedly recognized the second tests as partially successful.
Perhaps the most eloquent statement about the situation is the statement of the new US Air Force Secretary, Frank Kendall.
"I'm not happy with the pace"
- he said, speaking at the September Air, Space & Cyber Association Air Force Association conference.
From the world on a string
What does the US Air Force want to get?
AGM-183A has become one of the most controversial US military projects in recent years, in terms of the information provided. It is known that the detachable hypersonic Tactical Boost Glide ("Tactical gliding winged warhead") has been created for some time under the auspices of the defense agency DARPA.
The missile is very large: it will be carried primarily by the B-52H and B-1V strategic bombers. In the future, it is possible that the new B-21 Raider aircraft, conceptually close to the B-2, will also receive the rocket. The B-52N will be able to carry four ARRW missiles on an external sling - two on each holder. The first aerodynamic tests of the Tactical Boost Glide warhead were allegedly carried out in 2019.
It was reported that ARRW can develop a speed of M = 20, which, of course, met with skepticism from experts. Last year, Air Force Major General Andrew J. Gebara gave more plausible estimates in an interview with Air Force Magazine. According to the statement, the speed of combat equipment is between M = 6,5 and M = 8, which, undoubtedly, will also be a big step forward in comparison with existing missiles.
Recall that one of the most advanced American air-to-surface cruise missiles, the AGM-158 JASSM, is subsonic. However, the relatively small size allows the B-1B aircraft in theory to carry 24 such missiles. In addition, multirole fighters such as the F-15E Strike Eagle can be used as carriers.
The Americans are also creating another airborne hypersonic complex.
In September, the DARPA department announced a successful test of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) missile, which can be used by both strategic bombers and tactical aircraft. aviation... From the development of the hypersonic air-launched missile Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon, the Americans, as far as can be judged, refused.
In the foreseeable future, new hypersonic weapons will have to receive not only the US Air Force, but also the Navy and ground forces. Moreover, these complexes will be largely unified, and the long-suffering destroyer Zumwalt may become the first standard naval missile carrier for the Navy.
Lagging behind Russia?
In the West, American developments in the field of hypersonic weapons are discussed as actively as in Russia itself. Adding, however, that the United States is competing not only with the Russian Federation, but also with China.
It is more difficult to judge about Russian developments due to the notorious secrecy. The same shipboard "Zircon" we de facto never saw up close, although the military department willingly posted the launches themselves on the Web, noting their successes.
The last such launch was shown in December. Then the frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" hit a target located at the Chizha training ground with a hypersonic missile.
The signing of the first contract for the supply of missiles became known in August. The start of serial deliveries is scheduled for next year.
It is logical, however, that the American AGM-183A should be compared (if the comparison is generally appropriate here) not with the Zircon, but with the airborne complex. And we are not talking about the aeroballistic "Dagger". Another project looks more remarkable.
Recall that in August it was reported about the development of some promising long-range hypersonic missile X-95, which can be used by Tu-22M3M, Tu-160M, as well as PAK DA (a promising long-range aviation complex).
So far, there is almost no information in the public domain about the product and its capabilities. As, however, and the specific dates for the adoption of the missile into service.
Thus, in the absence of more or less reliable data, it is impossible to speak unambiguously about the leader in the "hypersonic race". In practice, it can turn out to be either side, including China, which traditionally hides its most important developments behind a curtain of secrecy.
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