Eglin detonates hypersonic weapon

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - The 780th Test Squadron successfully detonated an AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon warhead for the first time. The first-of-its-kind test for the air-to-ground, rocket-powered, high-altitude, hypersonic missile collected data on the lethality of the unique weapon. The nature and shape of the warhead required a lot of firsts, according to the test’s manager, David Spiker 780th TS. Some of the firsts were the new and unorthodox design and construction of the test arena, the test procedures and equipment, the warhead’s fragmentation data collecting and the post-test data processing to ensure the warhead’s effects have been accurately characterized. It was not clear from the Air Force press release where the successful warhead detonation occurred. Eglin has a number of test facilities, including the Gulf Test Range covering 120,000 square miles of the eastern Gulf of Mexico, but previous tests of the ARRW have been conducted at California's Edwards Air Force Base and over the Point Mugu Sea Range off the California coast. (Sources: Eglin Air Force Base, Northwest Florida Daily News, 07/07/21)