The U.S. Air Force is reviving its ARRW hypersonic missile program with a new “Increment 2” version designed to target moving warships at sea amid growing tensions with China in the Indo-Pacific. The Pentagon has requested over $296 million for development, with B-52 and B-1B bombers expected to carry the weapon in future combat operations. Officials say the missile could become America’s first operational air-launched hypersonic weapon and may also target high-value assets such as AWACS aircraft and mobile launchers. The push comes as Washington seeks stronger long-range strike capabilities to counter China’s expanding military presence across the Western Pacific.
