WASHINGTON: The US Air Force said on Tuesday that it had carried out a successful test of an air-launched hypersonic weapon in the Pacific Ocean.
The Air Force in a statement said the test was conducted on Sunday after a B-52 bomber took-off from the island of Guam carrying an Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW).
Though the US Air Force declared the test a success, it did not disclose the speed of the weapon. Earlier, the ARRW had flown five times more than the speed of sound.
The United States is not alone in developing weapons, which are difficult to track and intercept because of the high speed and maneuverability.
US military officials have said Russia in past also fired hypersonic missiles in Ukraine, while China has tested hypersonic weapons. Foreign ministry of China in October denied such reports saying it had not conducted a weapon test.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, reiterating US support for Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia on Tuesday warned that if Vladimir Putin is successful here, he will not stop there.
Addressing the 20th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, in Berlian, Austin said that Ukraine will not back down in the face of the Russian attack, and neither will the United States.
The meeting took place at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, lauding the countries that are working together to help Ukraine in its war.
