On December 2, the U.S. Air Force definitized a contract to perform critical design review, test, and production readiness support for the Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), a hypersonic boost-glide vehicle. According to the Department of Defense, the existing contract was modified up to $989 million and is expected to conclude by December 2022. The Air Force had previously awarded $480 million and projected a November 2021 completion date in the prior version of the ARRW contract. As of December 2019, the Department of Defense had obligated $23 million in research and development funds towards ARRW, which completed its preliminary design review in March 2019. The ARRW is planned for carriage on the B-52 bomber.