Friday 8 November, 2024

Northrop Grumman to deliver new strike missile capability

The US Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a contract worth approximately $705 million to deliver the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW).

Over the next 3 years, Northrop Grumman will continue to develop the weapon, integrate it onto platforms, and complete flight tests for rapid prototyping. All of this work will be done in Northridge, California, and at the missile integration factory in Allegany Ballistics Laboratory, West Virginia.

This air-to-ground weapon is designed to enhance the pivot towards a new generation of air power by enabling strike capability against rapidly relocatable targets within an enemy’s anti-access/area denial environment.

The missile’s open architecture interfaces allow for quick subsystem upgrades to enhance its capabilities. The development of SiAW is part of the Air Force’s first-of-its-kind Middle Tier Acquisition large weapon program, which prioritizes digital engineering, Weapon Open System Architecture and agility.

The Air Force aims to have an initial operational capability by 2026 through Phase 2, which consists of two primary increments.

  • Phase 2.1 concludes with a guided vehicle flight test.
  • Phase 2.2 concludes with three additional flight tests and the delivery of SiAW leave-behind prototype missiles and test assets.

The development of SiAW is part of Northrop Grumman’s broad offerings in advanced weapons, including armaments, components, missiles, electronics and interceptors to defeat and deter threats.

Neil Ritchie
Neil Ritchie
Neil Ritchie is the founder and editor of DefenceToday.com. Neil has a keen interest in the UK armed forces and national security issues as well as global defence procurement and cyber security matters. He also researches and writes about Scottish and military history.

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