Air Force awards $694 million ARRW production contract

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $694 million contract to move its AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW, from testing into production, reversing an earlier plan to end the program without production purchases. The contract was signed September 29 and announced October 26, the Air Force said. The service described the award as a transition from prototyping and flight testing to production. It has not disclosed how many missiles the contract covers or when deliveries are expected, citing operational security. ARRW is a boost-glide weapon. A solid-fuel rocket booster accelerates it to speeds exceeding Mach 5 before releasing a glide vehicle toward its target. The Air Force puts its range at approximately 1,000 miles, or 1,600 kilometers. The service says the design is intended to let aircraft strike from long distances, including against targets protected by advanced air defenses. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink called the production move a turning point in the service’s advanced weapons plans. He said the weapon would give commanders a high-speed strike option intended to penetrate sophisticated anti-access and area-denial defenses. The Air Force...