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The United States Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon, ARRW, hypersonic missile compared to the Russian Avangard.
The ARRW (Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon) hypersonic missile and the Russian Avangard hypersonic system are both cutting-edge, long-range hypersonic weapons developed by the United States and Russia, respectively. Here’s a comparison of their key features:
ARRW (US)
1. Type: Air-launched hypersonic missile
2. Development: Developed by Lockheed Martin and the US Air Force
3. Speed: Mach 5+ (five times the speed of sound, approximately 3,800 mph)
4. Range: Estimated 1,000-1,500 miles (1,609-2,414 km)
5. Guidance: Inertial navigation system, GPS, and terrain reference systems
6. Warhead: Conventional (high-explosive)
7. Launch platform: B-52 Stratofortress bomber
8. Status: In testing phase, with initial operational capability expected in 2023
Avangard (Russia)
1. Type: Hypersonic boost-glide system
2. Development: Developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya and the Russian Ministry of Defense
3. Speed: Mach 20+ (twenty times the speed of sound, approximately 12,000 mph)
4. Range: Estimated 3,700-6,200 miles (6,000-10,000 km)
5. Guidance: Inertial navigation system, GPS, and GLONASS
6. Warhead: Nuclear-capable
7. Launch platform: Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or UR-100N UTTKh ICBM
8. Status: Operational since 2019, with deployment in the Russian Strategic Missile Forces
Key differences:
1. Speed: Avangard is significantly faster than ARRW.
2. Range: Avangard has a longer estimated range.
3. Warhead: Avangard is nuclear-capable, while ARRW is conventional.
4. Launch platform: ARRW is air-launched, while Avangard is launched from an ICBM.
5. Guidance: Both systems use similar guidance systems, but Avangard’s system is reportedly more advanced.
Similarities:
1. Hypersonic capabilities: Both systems can operate at extremely high speeds.
2. Stealth: Both systems are designed to evade missile defense systems.
3. Strategic significance: Both systems are intended to provide a strategic advantage in terms of deterrence and response.
Implications:
1. Arms race: The development of these systems contributes to the ongoing hypersonic arms race between nations.
2. Military strategy: Hypersonic systems challenge traditional missile defense systems and require new strategies.
3. Global security: The proliferation of hypersonic weapons raises concerns about global stability and the potential for escalation.
Keep in mind that the specifics of these systems are classified, and publicly available information may not reflect their actual capabilities.