The US Air Force has conducted a full test of its prototype hypersonic missile, after months of delays and similar drills by Russia and China.
A B-52 bomber took off from the territory of Guam on Tuesday and launched the missile, known as the air-launched rapid response weapon (ARRW), on a missile testing site in the Marshall Islands.
The US air force (USAF) declined to comment on the details of the mission, but the test is thought to be the final drill in a years-long programme to develop the technology.
Hypersonic missiles have the capacity to travel at more than five times the speed of sound, and approach targets from a much lower angle, making them harder to detect by enemy warning systems.
The slow development of the US’s weapons has been criticised by Congress, amid warnings that Russia, China and North Korea are developing similar programmes.
“This test launched a full prototype operational hypersonic missile and focused on the ARRW’s end-to-end performance,” said a USAF spokesman.
“The air force gained valuable insights into the capabilities of this new, cutting-edge technology.
The spokesman said the test “acquired valuable, unique data and was intended to further a range of hypersonic programs” and “validated and improved our test and evaluation capabilities”.
The test came as North Korea claimed to have tested its own hypersonic weapon.
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
