The US Air Force has successfully tested a hypersonic weapon.
The test was conducted Saturday in the Pacific Ocean off the southern coast of California, but it was confirmed in the early hours of Tuesday.
The US Air Force said that the air-launched rapid reaction weapon (ARRW) was launched by a B-52 bomber.
“Once detached from the aircraft, the ARRW’s turbochargers ignited and ignited within the expected time, achieving supersonic speeds more than five times the speed of sound,” they added in a statement.
It arrives just weeks after UK, US and Australia agreed to work together on hypersonic and anti-ultrasonic weapons.
Australia-UK-US Agreement – or AUKUS – announced last September initially focused on nuclear submarine development in the Pacific at a time of growing concern about China.
But the focus has broadened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to include new areas of cooperation such as hypersonic weapons.
In March, Russia said that it had Deployment of hypersonic missile “Kinzhal” in Ukraine – a weapon that is said to be able to fly at 10 times the speed of sound and cannot reliably be tracked or intercepted at that speed by any existing defenses.
The weapon destroyed an underground storage of missiles and aircraft ammunition in western Ukraine, a Russian Defense Ministry official said.
‘Apocalyptic war between superpowers’
Defense analyst Professor Michael Clarke told Sky News at the time that the weapon was developed “for the prospect of apocalyptic war between superpowers”.
He added: “You can’t fight it. You can’t see it. You can’t prepare for it.”
The US says China has also tested hypersonic weapons, although China’s Foreign Ministry has denied this.
North Korea claims to have tested a hypersonic weapon in January.
Earlier this month, a committee of MPs warned that The UK’s armed forces may lack “the ability to win modern warfare” they need for the demands of future war.
The Public Accounts Committee said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a reminder of the “risks and responsibilities” that come with the UK’s NATO membership.
Despite the £16.5 billion budget increase over the four years to 2024-25, the Department of Defense has expressed disappointment at the “complacency” within the Department of Defense over the affordability of the equipment plan.
