Hypersonic Missile Test Failed, United States Left Behind China And Russia?

Ilustrasi B 52 H Stratofortress membawa AGM 183A ARRW. (Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Air Force Christopher Okula)

JAKARTA - The United States Air Force announced its failure to fire a hypersonic missile from the B-52H Stratofortress bomber.

The test-firing of this missile was carried out by the B-52H Stratofortress bomber flying from Edwards Air Force Base in California.

"The B-52H Stratofortress took off Monday over the Point Mugu Sea Range, intending to fire the first thrust test vehicle for the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) program. In contrast, the test missile was unable to complete its launch and could be safely distorted. onboard the flight back to Edwards Air Force Base", the United States Air Force said in a statement launched on CNN Wednesday, April 7.

This failure represents a setback for the United States, in a race to develop hypersonic weapons with China and Russia, amid rising global tensions.

The AGM-183A ARRW missile is designed to travel at high speed, so it can fly very long distances and move quickly through heavily defended airspace to attack targets such as ports, airfields, and other installations before it can be shot down.

"The ARRW program has crossed borders from the start and is taking calculated risks to advance this important capability. While not being launched disappointingly, recent tests provide invaluable information to study and continue. This is why we are testing", said Brig General Heath Collins, program executive officer of the weapons directorate.

Illustration B 52 H Stratofortress, (Wikimedia Commons / Airman 1st Class Victor J. Caputo)

The Air Force said the missiles were aimed at giving US commanders around the world the ability to destroy high-value and time-sensitive targets.

In comparison, Russia and China, two of the United States' rivals, claim to have successfully developed a hypersonic weapons program, with Russia claiming to have successfully tested the missile.

China first tested hypersonic missiles in 2014 and Russia in 2016. China's hypersonic glide vehicle, known as the DF-ZF, has been tested at least nine times since 2014 according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS).

Meanwhile, Russia's hypersonic glide vehicle, the Avangard, is equipped with a nuclear warhead and is launched from the SS-19 intercontinental ballistic missile, according to CRS. Carrying out tests in 2016 and 2018, Russia announced in December 2019 that it had activated two SS-19 missile launchers equipped with the Avangard.

"Among the new weapon systems China is testing is an intercontinental hypersonic glide vehicle, similar to the Russian Avangard designed to fly at high speed and low altitude, complicating our ability to provide precise warnings", said General Terrence O 'Shaughnessy at that time as a Commander of US Northern Command, in February 2020.