The U.S. Air Force this past weekend conducted a successful test of a hypersonic weapon that will be produced at Lockheed Martin’s Hypersonic Missile Assembly Building for advanced manufacturing in Courtland.
The defense industry titan unveiled its Lawrence County facility in October 2021 alongside company leadership, military brass and Alabama’s highest-ranking elected officials.
During the unveiling, those in position of authority to speak on the importance of the facility’s operations advised that the work conducted in the rural North Alabama town would be vital to U.S. national security.
The Air Force’s successful testing of the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) further proves this to be the case.
Military leadership for years have sounded the alarm over the United States’ adversaries rapid development of advanced hypersonic weaponry.
Hypersonic technology enables the nation to possess both offensive and defensive capabilities to confront enemies of the United States in the realm of nuclear war. Alongside modern maneuverability capabilities, the technology allows the weapon to reach five times the speed of sound, which was achieved in the most recent test.
In a statement touting the test, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) spoke to the crucial role Lockheed Martin’s Courtland facility will play in meeting the nation’s goal toward reaching enhanced hypersonic capabilities.
“I want to congratulate both the United States Air Force and Lockheed Martin on the successful test of AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW,” said Aderholt. “The ARRW achieved a speed of five times greater than sound.”
“These tests, and their success, are vitally important to the safety and security of America and our interests abroad,” added the congressman. “We have allowed the Russians and Chinese to surpass us in the field of hypersonics and it’s reassuring to see that we are quickly working to catch up and surpass these adversaries. I’m also proud that the ARRW will be produced right in the 4th Congressional District at Lockheed Martin’s Courtland facility.”
While private industry in North Alabama is playing its role in forging technological advancements in the realm of hypersonics, members of Alabama’s congressional delegation are actively working for increased investment to follow the work on the ground.
During Tuesday’s meeting of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa), who serves as committee vice chairman, called for an increased fiscal year 2023 budget proposal from the Air Force and Space Force.
“I was pleased to see real growth in the Space Force budget request which recognizes the contributions of the service, and the growing importance of our operations in space,” said Shelby in prepared remarks. “I remain concerned, however, that the Air Force budget request is insufficient considering the needed modernization across the inventory with a rapidly evolving threat.”
Alabama’s senior senator then touched on the security threats posed by the United States’ geopolitical foes in the realm of hypersonics and called for “sufficient funding” for such defensive capabilities.
“China is continuing its efforts to advance its space-based capabilities and accelerating the development of air defense systems that put our forces at risk,” stated Shelby. “Given Russia’s use and China’s testing of hypersonic missiles, I am interested to hear more from you about how this budget request begins to address the difficult task of tracking that particular threat.”
“We must provide sufficient funding to invest in our future technologies while maintaining a credible conventional and strategic deterrent capability,” he continued. “To that end, I am also interested to hear what capabilities you could accelerate if additional funds were made available. Lastly, the overall funding request does not keep pace with inflation. I am concerned that this sends the wrong message to our adversaries.”
Shelby concluded, “A complex and evolving security environment requires a serious commitment to our national defense. Now, more than ever, we must invest in new technologies and capabilities if we are to meet and defeat current and future threats.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
