Lockheed Martin has secured a $694-million production contract from the US Air Force for its Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon, advancing the ARRW hypersonic missile programme toward manufacturing. The award comes after several years of development and testing of the weapon, which is designed to fly faster than Mach 5. The company revealed that it had invested in production materials and equipment ahead of receiving government funding. Manufacturing preparations also include a major expansion of Lockheed Martin’s Building P-20 facility in Troy, Alabama. The company has broken ground on a 47,000-square-foot (4,366-square-meter) addition that will triple the site’s current ARRW production capacity and is expected to generate employment opportunities over the next four years. Lockheed Martin has committed $67 million toward the facility expansion and equipment, which will feature advanced manufacturing technologies, robotics, and digital systems. The ARRW uses a boost-glide configuration to deliver attacks against high-value targets over long distances. A B-52 bomber carries the missile and launches it using a rocket booster, which accelerates the weapon before releasing its hypersonic glide vehicle. The released vehicle then maneuvers toward the target at extremely high speeds. This combination of speed and maneuverability is intended to challenge enemy air defense interception systems. Its aircraft-based launch method also provides the Air Force with a stand-off attack capability, reducing the need to deploy launchers close to adversary territory. Despite its intended capabilities, ARRW has experienced setbacks during development and testing, leading the Air Force to previously consider shifting funding and resources toward alternative hypersonic weapons.
