US tests hypersonic missile from pacific base of Gaum

NEW DELHI: The US Air Force, on Tuesday, said that it had conducted a successful test of an air-launched hypersonic weapon in the Pacific Ocean.
The test was carried out on Sunday after a B-52 bomber departed from Guam on Sunday carrying an Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), according to the US Air Force.
Why US is developing hypersonic weapons?This test comes amidst growing pressure on the Pentagon to keep up in the hypersonic weapons race, particularly in light of advancements by China and Russia in this field, according to Defence News.

Meanwhile, another South Asian country North Korea, had announced a successful test of a solid-fuel engine for its new intermediate-range hypersonic missile. As per the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the experts believed that Pyongyang’s pursuit of intermediate-range missiles primarily targets the US Pacific territory of Guam, where American military bases are located. These missiles could potentially reach Alaska and, with adjustments to their range, pose a threat to US military installations in Japan’s Okinawa island.
What US Air Force said on developing hypersonic weapons?

The test aimed to evaluate the performance of the operational hypersonic missile and gather insights into the capabilities of this technology.

“This test launched a full prototype operational hypersonic missile and focused on the ARRW’s end-to-end performance,” per the statement. “The Air Force gained valuable insights into the capabilities of this new, cutting-edge technology,” the spokesperson added.

Although the speed of the weapon during the test was not disclosed, Reuters mentioned that in previous tests, the ARRW has achieved speeds at least five times faster than the speed of sound.

(With inputs from agency)