Under the SiAW Program, Northrop Grumman has confirmed the delivery of the first test missile to the United States Air Force (USAF). Initially, this missile is intended to equip F-35A stealth fighters, with plans for later deployment from the new B-21 Raider bombers. This milestone follows a $705 million contract awarded to Northrop Grumman in September 2023 for the development of the new air-to-surface missile.
Known as the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW), this air-to-surface missile is currently under development and testing to enhance the capabilities of the USAF’s stealth fighters and bombers. Externally, the SiAW resembles the AARGM-ER anti-radiation missile, suggesting that its design may draw on that Navy program. However, the SiAW is specifically designed for “attacks on rapidly repositionable mobile targets in a hostile anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) environment.”
The delivery of the inert test missile to the USAF primarily aims to facilitate ground and flight tests to validate its design and integration with the F-35. The SiAW is specifically engineered to be deployed from the internal weapon bays of the stealth fighter.
Although Northrop Grumman provided few additional details in its November 18 announcement, the test missile’s delivery likely marks the program’s Phase 2. This phase emphasizes digital engineering and the Weapon Open System Architecture, culminating in a series of flight tests with USAF aircraft.
Looking ahead, the USAF has announced plans to achieve Initial Operational Capability with the SiAW by 2026. The program anticipates purchasing 400 units by 2028, with potential future orders increasing to as many as 3,000 missiles in the coming years.
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