Under the new schedule, the timing of the introduction of the US's first hypersonic weapon is one year behind the original plan. This leaves the US even further behind China and Russia.
The US Air Force said it would declare initial operational capability for hypersonic weapons in the next fiscal year. Based on the initial schedule, the weapon was planned to launch on September 30, 2022.
The US hypersonic weapon, also known as the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), the Pentagon hopes, will become Uncle Sam's country's first operational hypersonic weapon.
Last month, Russia made its debut by launching a hypersonic air-to-ground missile in an attack on Ukraine. Meanwhile, last July, China fired a hypersonic missile in a test flight from Earth orbit towards a target on Earth.
The US hypersonic missile, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, failed three consecutive motor booster tests last year.
This year, the US Air Force decided to shift the launch date to the next fiscal year due to an anomaly found in a recent test flight.
The US Air Force said it would be prepared to declare initial operational capability of their hypersonic weapons after a successful demonstration of operational utility and through a complete missile test following a booster demonstration.
Thereafter, if the weapon is deemed to have the latest combat capability, then another test missile unit will be available for use in an emergency as the Air Force has delayed a formal production decision.
The delay in ARRW so far has not revealed the underlying problem, except for difficulties regarding the workings of the weapon with the B-52H bomber about to launch it.
The slow pace of development of US hypersonic weapons prompted heated debate when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin presented his report before the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday (5/4).
Some lawmakers are even aware that the US is currently lagging behind their enemy.
Bloomberg noted that Lockheed Martin secured an initial development contract worth US$ 480 million in April 2018, which was later increased to US$ 986 million in December 2019.
Overall, the US Air Force has received a budget of up to US$1.4 billion for the development of its first hypersonic weapon.
According to their five-year plan, the US Air Force has budgeted only $46 million in procurement funding in its fiscal 2023 request. With Congressional approval, the funds could be diverted to advanced research programs.
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