The AGM-183A is a developmental boost-glide hypersonic missile to provide future, nonnuclear strike against time-sensitive, heavily defended, high-value targets from standoff range.
The missile is designed to accelerate to speeds well in excess of Mach 5 before releasing a non-powered glide vehicle which maneuvers to the intended target.
USAF completed a series of seven captive flight-tests utilizing an instrumented test article on a B-52H at Edwards, culminating in an aborted boost-test in December 2020.
The service now plans to conduct the first boost-test from a B-52 in early FY21, accelerating a dummy glide vehicle over the Point Mugu Test Range.
The service is procuring eight prototype AGM-183s to support testing and a potential early-operational capability. AFGSC plans to operationally deploy the weapon on the B-52 and B-1 as early as 2022, with possible, later integration on the F-15E/EX.
Contractor: Lockheed Martin.
First Flight: N/A.
Delivered: N/A.
IOC: 2022 (planned).
Production: N/A.
Inventory: N/A.
Operator: AFMC, Planned: AFGSC.
Unit Location: Edwards AFB, Calif.
Active Variant: •AGM-183A. Developmental prototype hypersonic boost-glide weapon.
Dimensions: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Propulsion: Solid fuel rocket.
Performance: Mach 5+, range approx. 1,000 miles.
Guidance: Unknown.
Warhead: Boost-glide vehicle
Integration: Planned: B-1B, B-52H, F-15E.