Lockheed Martin AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW)

Scott Kenny said:
This feels really stupid to ask, but why only 8x14" lugs? Isn't the heaviest 14" lug weapon 250lbs?
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Mk 83 1000lb bombs have 14-inch lugs. (The only Aero bomb with 30-inch spacing is the Mk84.)

So does Harpoon, IIRC, though it's too long to fit more than six on any of the B-52 pylons.
 
Scott Kenny said:
This feels really stupid to ask, but why only 8x14" lugs? Isn't the heaviest 14" lug weapon 250lbs?
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Technically there are 9, 14" lugs, but the 9th is only able to carry dumb bombs. There are only 8 of the 9 stations wired for 1553/1760 so only 8 GBU-38 or WCMD. The reason was the computer in the HSAB didn't have the power and the power supply to do 9 stations only 8.

14" weapons are up to 1000 lb. class.
 
TomS said:
Mk 83 1000lb bombs have 14-inch lugs. (The only Aero bomb with 30-inch spacing is the Mk84.)

So does Harpoon, IIRC, though it's too long to fit more than six on any of the B-52 pylons.
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Correct, the same issue applies for JSOW and GBU-12 which is why only 6 are carried on an HSAB.
 
mkellytx said:
Technically there are 9, 14" lugs, but the 9th is only able to carry dumb bombs. There are only 8 of the 9 stations wired for 1553/1760 so only 8 GBU-38 or WCMD. The reason was the computer in the HSAB didn't have the power and the power supply to do 9 stations only 8.

14" weapons are up to 1000 lb. class.
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Okay, that makes sense.

Didn't realize that 1000lb weapons were 14" lugs.
 
Sferrin said:
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Yeah, @Sferrin, I had one of those on my desk from one of my tests when I was in the 419th. My biggest AF regret is that I didn't take my souvenir with me. Funny story, when I dropped the SFW's I remembered that they need heat sources to target. I relayed that info to China Lake and they set charcoal fires in 55 gal drums so the pucks would function. They brought us the empty dispensers after they cleaned up the range. The video in the control room was really good.
 
what the f***?. How?. Isn't the missile super massive or something?
 
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Ronny said:
Wait, where did you get the weight for ARRW?
Also, isn't F-35 station cap at around 5k lbs?
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Edited since I misread your post.

5 - 6k for ARRW is what certain reports puts it at and 6.6k is what it says on Wikipedia.

But who knows. Theres no public figure for it but if its on the lower end of 5k, might be able to figure out how to get it at or under 5k
 
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https://theaviationist.com/2026/04/29/usaf-revives-agm-183-arrw-hypersonic-missile/


The Air Force is looking to bring back the AGM-183 ARRW with $1 billion in funding until FY2030, while also beginning to work on an Air-Launched Ballistic Program (ALBM) derived from the ARRW.
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Additionally, the budget request mentions the ARRW will be integrated with the B-1B Lancer bomber, an effort underway for a few years now. So far, test missions saw the ARRW employed only by the B-52H Stratofortress.

The ARRW is an aeroballistic-type hypersonic missile, functioning on the Boost Glide Vehicle principle. Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) boosters from the ground – or in the ARRW’s case dropped from a high-flying aircraft – ‘boost’ a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) and release it just outside the atmosphere. Upon reaching hypersonic speeds, the HGV separates and glides to its target at speeds up to Mach 15.
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Sferrin said:
I want to see one with six of those hanging outside. Maybe even eight.
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https://www.airandspaceforces.com/new-boeing-pylon-b-1/

Attachment lugs “click into a new position … like Lego” on the pylon, Wong said. The LAM can carry heavy missiles in the same class as ARRW; up to 7,500 pounds per station.

I'd think it would be limited by the aircraft hardpoints though. On the B-1B there are six positions that could carry a dual AGM-129 pylon and two spots for singles for a total of 14 AGM-129s. Two 7,500lb weapons per station seems unlikely. LAM shows a dual pylon but they are unclear whether that mean two 7,500lb weapons per LAM when they say, "per station".

40405SDC12071.jpg
 
missile_man said:
There's no requirement for the ARRW to be launched from a fighter. I don't even know ofany discussion for that capability
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If the ARRW design brief of 5000lbs is correct, it's within limits of fighter carriage.

The main pylons on both Eagle IIs and F-35s are capable of carrying that much. Plane will handle like an absolute pig while loaded that heavy, but it's within the design limits.
 
missile_man said:
There's no requirement for the ARRW to be launched from a fighter. I don't even know ofany discussion for that capability
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https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-...us-air-force-chose-hypersonic-arrw-over-hcsw/
The Pentagon chose ARRW over HCSW partly due to ARRW’s smaller size.

“ARRW is smaller. You can carry twice as many on the B-52,” says Roper. “It’s possible it could go on the F-15, if we don’t experience mass growth, but we haven’t validated that yet. It’s in class to be able to fit on the centre line.” - Roper
 
Sferrin said:
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/new-boeing-pylon-b-1/

Attachment lugs “click into a new position … like Lego” on the pylon, Wong said. The LAM can carry heavy missiles in the same class as ARRW; up to 7,500 pounds per station.

I'd think it would be limited by the aircraft hardpoints though. On the B-1B there are six positions that could carry a dual AGM-129 pylon and two spots for singles for a total of 14 AGM-129s. Two 7,500lb weapons per station seems unlikely. LAM shows a dual pylon but they are unclear whether that mean two 7,500lb weapons per LAM when they say, "per station".
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Obviously, one station had a GBU72 (5000 lb class) mounted. That tells me it's rated for 13klb. 15klb does sound a bit over spec but possible as long as a lower g-limit is observed.
 
Seragina said:
Obviously, one station had a GBU72 (5000 lb class) mounted. That tells me it's rated for 13klb. 15klb does sound a bit over spec but possible as long as a lower g-limit is observed.
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Technically, one station had a 7,500lb class weapon mounted (AGM-183). I'm just thinking the six hardpoints that were designed for a dual cruise missile pylon probably already had G restrictions with that load. Bumping it up to 15k, and a pylon, seems a bit of a stretch. Also, brochure from back in the days give an external load of 75k. Where two of the eight hard points were meant for single missiles that would suggest a maximum of six AGM-183, one at each dual station for a total of 45k external,
 
Sferrin said:
Technically, one station had a 7,500lb class weapon mounted (AGM-183). I'm just thinking the six hardpoints that were designed for a dual cruise missile pylon probably already had G restrictions with that load. Bumping it up to 15k, and a pylon, seems a bit of a stretch. Also, brochure from back in the days give an external load of 75k. Where two of the eight hard points were meant for single missiles that would suggest a maximum of six AGM-183, one at each dual station for a total of 45k external,
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Agreed, though AGM-183 is required to be 5000 lb. Ultimately, the diameter & wings of the store will be the overiding ciriteria that limits how many could be mounted. That's more likely to happen than weight for these kind of oversized weapons.
 
Seragina said:
Agreed, though AGM-183 is required to be 5000 lb. Ultimately, the diameter & wings of the store will be the overiding ciriteria that limits how many could be mounted. That's more likely to happen than weight for these kind of oversized weapons.
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What are they giving up to get a 33% weight cut? And is this a variant of the existing one or are they all getting neutered?
 
Scott Kenny said:
If the ARRW design brief of 5000lbs is correct, it's within limits of fighter carriage.

The main pylons on both Eagle IIs and F-35s are capable of carrying that much. Plane will handle like an absolute pig while loaded that heavy, but it's within the design limits.
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Gotcha.
 
Defense Updates has put out a video concerning efforts to integrate the AGM-183A with the B-1B:


A B-1B Lancer bomber of the United States Air Force has been publicly observed for the first time carrying the AGM-183A ARRW.The hypersonic weapon appeared briefly in a two-second segment within a longer clip highlighting maintenance personnel, published on Edwards Air Force Base’s official Instagram page on April 29.​
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The Air Force had previously indicated its intent to integrate the missile onto the B-1B. However, until now, the weapon had only been observed in testing on the B-52H Stratofortress, and no formal announcement had been made regarding its evaluation or integration on the B-1B platform.​
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In this video, Defense Updates analyzes why AGM-183 ARRW deployment with B-1B is a crucial progress?
#defenseupdates #ARRW #ushypersonicweapon
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Chapters:
0:00 TITLE
00:11 INTRODUCTION
01:05 SPONSORSHIP - NordVPN
01:39 BACKGROUND
02:39 LOAD ADAPTABLE MODULAR (LAM) PYLON
04:41 AGM-183A ARRW
06:43 ANALYSIS
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