U.S. Air Force conducts successful hypersonic weapon test

The U.S. Air Force announced Monday it had successfully conducted a hypersonic weapon test. 

In a release, the Air Force said a B-52H Stratofortress launched an Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) off the coast of Southern California Saturday. After separating from the aircraft, the weapon's booster ignited and burned for "expected duration," according to the release, and then achieved hypersonic speed – five times greater than the speed of sound. 

Saturday's test marks the service's first successful test of the ARRW. The service previously conducted three consecutive tests that failed, according to the Congressional Research Service.