The U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber just simulated a hypersonic missile kill chain test, the U.S. portal 19FortyFive reported Friday.
According to the report, the U.S. Air Force recently conducted a simulated hypersonic missile weapon test with the B-52 Stratospheric Fortress, an exercise that fused the oldest U.S. bomber with the newest missile.
During the kill chain test, a B-52 based at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, flew to Alaska and back as part of a 13-hour-plus flight, during which the B-52 received targeting data from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, and used that information to simulate the launch of an AGM-183 at a target nearly 700 miles away. The B-52 received targeting data from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, and used the information to simulate firing the AGM-183 air-launched rapid response weapon at a target nearly 700 miles away.
A moment for the history books
In an article reporting on the simulated kill chain, Lt. Col. Joe Little, deputy commander of the 53rd Test Management Team, said, “We are really exercising the data chain we need to complete the kill chain cycle and then feed back to the participants in the airspace to simulate the launch and effectiveness of the supersonic missile.
The test occurred during Exercise Northern Edge , an annual joint military exercise in Alaska that uses the state’s vast training area for tactical maneuvers.
What is the AGM-183
The AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon, a boosted glide supersonic missile, is also known as the ARRW missile.
Although exact details of the missile are not available to the public, the ARRW missile is believed to be capable of reaching speeds of nearly Mach 20 and is likely to be highly maneuverable, especially in its terminal phase.
The unique combination of incredibly high speed and high maneuverability would make it particularly difficult for conventional air defense systems to resist .
Why the B-52?
The B-52 Stratospheric Fortress is a long-range strategic bomber and is the oldest U.S. warplane currently in service. The Cold War-era design first entered service with the USAF in the mid-1950s and remains relevant despite its nearly 70-year old airframe design, thanks to steady upgrades in avionics, engines and airframe improvements.
Arming this vintage bomber with ARRW supersonic missiles may give the B-52 a new lease on life as a fast-response long-range strategic bomber. Because of the incredible speed and range of supersonic missiles, a B-52 bomber armed with ARRW missiles or similar weapons could theoretically be far enough away from enemy aircraft and air defense systems to be effective on the battlefield.
So while the B-52 bomber may be the oldest and most venerable platform in the U.S. military, it may not be going away anytime soon.
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