USA: OpFires und AGM-183A Air Launched Rapid Response Weapon

[theoderich]

Defense Production Act Title III Presidential Determination for Airbreathing Engines, Advanced Avionics Position Navigation and Guidance Systems, and Constituent Materials for Hypersonic Systems

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/R ... athing-en/

[theoderich]

1st Multi-Domain Task Force Deploys the Army’s First Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon System




https://www.army.mil/article/265349/1st ... pon_system

[theoderich]

Air Force conducts first ARRW operational prototype missile test

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display ... sile-test/

Das ARRW-Programm wird wahrscheinlich eingestellt:

ARRW hypersonic missile test failed, US Air Force admits (28. März 2023)

Frank Kendall indicated the Lockheed Martin-made AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon program may be in jeopardy. The service, he said, is “more committed to HACM [the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile, the service’s other major hypersonic weapon program] at this point in time than we are to ARRW.”

The ARRW effort “has struggled a little bit in its testing program,” Kendall told the House Appropriations Committee’s defense panel during a hearing on the fiscal 2024 budget request. He said an ultimate decision on whether to continue with the program could come as part of the FY25 budget process next year following a study of the failed March test and possibly two more test launches.

The Air Force on Friday revealed it had conducted the second test launch of a fully operational prototype ARRW off the coast of southern California earlier this month.

But the Air Force did not reveal details about the test or its success in that statement, only saying it met “several of the objectives.” That language differed from an Air Force statement in December about a previous ARRW test, in which the service said the weapon’s release was successful and met all objectives.

The Air Force declined to comment further on the March test and its results when contacted Friday by Defense News.

Kendall did not detail how the March 13 test fell short in his testimony.

“We did not get the data that we needed from that test,” he told lawmakers. “They’re currently examining that, trying to understand what happened.”

Kendall said the Dec. 9 ARRW test, which was also with an operational prototype, was “a very successful flight, which was a big step forward before the one that just occurred.”

The Air Force has two more ARRW prototypes it plans to test after the studies on the failed test are done, Kendall said.

“We’ll probably have to make a decision on the fate of ARRW after we complete the analysis, and hopefully do those two tests,” Kendall said. “We’ll revisit it, I think, as we build the ’25 budget to see what will be done in the future.”

Kendall said HACM has been “reasonably successful.”

“We see a definite role for the HACM concept,” Kendall said. “It’s compatible with more of our aircraft, and it will give us more combat capability overall.”

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/03 ... ce-admits/

Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the United States Air Force and Space Force

https://appropriations.house.gov/legisl ... pace-force

[theoderich]

Weapon Systems Annual Assessment:
Programs Are Not Consistently Implementing Practices That Can Help Accelerate Acquisitions

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-106059

Long Range Hypersonic Weapon System (LRHW)

[...]

The Army expects to field a system with eight missiles by the end of fiscal year 2023. The program proposed transitioning to the MTA rapid fielding pathway, but as of January 2023, the Army had not finalized that decision.

[...]

Current Status

The Army is on track to field its first LRHW system—including the eight missiles in production—by the end of fiscal year 2023, according to LRHW officials. However, the schedule depends on the success of upcoming tests. The first flight test of a complete missile in 2022 was partially successful. LRHW has two more missile tests scheduled in 2023 before it plans to field the first system.

[...]

We found in prior work that starting production before demonstrating a system works as intended increases the risk of discovering deficiencies that require costly rework. The program is managing this risk by continuing to build, but not complete, the missiles until it has more test data.

The Army plans to field two additional LRHW batteries no later than fiscal years 2025 and 2027.

https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-23-106059.pdf

[theoderich]

Northrop Grumman Opens New Hypersonic Propulsion Systems Manufacturing Facility

ELKTON, Md. – Aug. 3, 2023 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has opened a Hypersonics Capability Center (HCC) in Elkton, Maryland to produce advanced propulsion solutions that can power hypersonic missiles beyond Mach 5.

https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/r ... g-facility

[theoderich]

Contracts For Sept. 15, 2023

Lockheed Martin Corp., Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $104,698,553 modification (P00006) to contract W31P4Q-23-C-0008 for Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon ground support equipment. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2028. Fiscal 2023 missile procurement, Army funds; and fiscal 2023 research, development, test and evaluation, Army funds in the amount of $104,698,553, were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting authority.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/ ... e/3527789/

[theoderich]

U.S. Army Still Looking For Countries To Host Pacific Task Forces

The Army created its first Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) in 2017 as an experiment to create an expeditionary unit comprised of long-range fires, base defenses and other support units. The MDTFs will eventually field new capabilities in a strategic fires battalion, such as the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) and Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW).

Two of the new MDTFs are focused on the Indo-Pacific, but don’t have a home yet. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told reporters Oct. 9 at the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual meeting in Washington that the MDTFs have deployed repeatedly to Japan and the Philippines for exercises, but those nations have not given approval for a basing agreement. The 1st MDTF is for now located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and the 3rd was activated in 2022 and is based at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. The 2nd MDTF is focused on Europe, and is based in Wiesbaden, Germany.

“That’s a decision that obviously is a sovereign one, and our host nation allies have to decide that for themselves,” she says.

The 1st MDTF deployed to Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, in May during the exercise Balikatan 23. There have been hopes that the Philippines would agree to base the task force following a February 2023 agreement in Manila between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Carlito Galvez, the Philippine senior undersecretary and officer in charge of the Department of National Defense, to increase the U.S. presence and improve multiple bases.

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/ ... ask-forces