Stand-in Attack Weapon
Standing-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) | |
---|---|
Type | Air-to-surface missile, aimed at targeting anti-access / area denial (A2 / AD) weapons |
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | Planned for 2026 |
Used by | To be used by the United States Air Force |
Production history | |
Designer | Northrop Grumman |
Designed | Since May 2022[1] |
Manufacturer | Northrop Grumman |
Developed from | AGM-88G AARGM-ER |
Produced | Since 2024 |
Variants | [2] |
Specifications | |
Steering system | Tail controlled missile |
Launch platform |
The Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) is a tactical air-to-surface missile under development for the United States Air Force (USAF) by Northrop Grumman.
It is primarily designed to go after air-defence target and enable the use of air support over a battlefield. The other targets that the USAF is interested in with this weapon are high-value targets such as command-and-control sites, surface-to-surface missile launchers, anti-satellite systems, and GPS jamming systems.[1]
History
[edit]In May 2022, the USAF awarded contracts to L3Harris Technologies, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to begin the first phase of development for the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW).[3] On 28 September 2023, the USAF awarded a US$705m contract to Northrop Grumman to develop and test the SiAW. The SiAW is intended to attack relocatable targets including theater ballistic missile launchers, cruise and anti-ship missile launchers, GPS jamming platforms and anti-satellite systems. It will have a shorter range than standoff weapons, being fired by an aircraft after penetrating enemy airspace. The SiAW will fit inside the F-35 Lightning II's internal weapon bays. The design leverages work on the United States Navy's AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile - Extended Range (AARGM-ER). The USAF plans to have an operational weapon by 2026.[4][5]
In November 2024, Northrop Grumman delivered the first SiAW to the USAF for flight testing.[6][7]
See also
[edit]- Mako Multi-Mission Hypersonic Missile, Lockheed Martin's offering for the SiAW program
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Tirpak, John A. (15 June 2022). "New SiAW Seen as Modular, Pathfinder Weapon". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ "SiAW - Standing-in Attack Weapon" (PDF). Northrop Grumman. 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-12-05.
- ^ Losey, Stephen (9 June 2022). "US Air Force awards contracts to start designing F-35 weapon". Defense News. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ Losey, Stephen (26 September 2023). "Northrop wins $705 million contract for F-35 air-to-ground weapon". Defense News. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ Rosenberg, Zach (28 September 2023). "Northrop Grumman awarded US Air Force contract to build Stand-in Attack Weapon". Jane's Defence Weekly. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph (18 November 2024). "First Stand-In Attack Missile Delivered To USAF". The War Zone. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ "Delivery initiates SiAW flight test program" (Press release). Northrop Grumman Newsroom. November 18, 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-11-18. Retrieved 2024-11-23.