Stand-in Attack Weapon

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.

History

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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).[1][2]

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.[3][4]

In November 2024, Northrop Grumman delivered the first SiAW to the USAF for flight testing.[5][6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Losey, Stephen (9 June 2022). "US Air Force awards contracts to start designing F-35 weapon". Defense News. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  2. ^ Tirpak, John A. (15 June 2022). "New SiAW Seen as Modular, Pathfinder Weapon". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  3. ^ Losey, Stephen (26 September 2023). "Northrop wins $705 million contract for F-35 air-to-ground weapon". Defense News. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (18 November 2024). "First Stand-In Attack Missile Delivered To USAF". The War Zone. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  6. ^ "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.