US closes multibillion-dollar ARRW hypersonic weapons program and resets funding for 2024

The U.S. Department of Defense is simultaneously developing several hypersonic weapons projects.One of the

it's called the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon and will soon be shut down.

What is known

Last year, the US Air Force conducted"very successful" first test of a combat prototype of the AGM-183A ARRW hypersonic missile. However, the second test, which took place in the spring, ended in failure and generated controversy regarding the future of the program.

The total funding for the project is severalbillion dollars. The US Air Force has requested $150 million for fiscal year 2024 (FY) to complete comprehensive "critical" tests to evaluate hypersonic weapons.

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However, the House Committee onThe House Armed Services Committee has decided to zero funding for FY2024. This means that the hypersonic weapons development program will be closed after the completion of FY2023. Although it is possible that in the future work on the project will be resumed.