Northrop Grumman has delivered the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) test missile to the U.S. Air Force, marking a critical step in the program’s development and testing phase, according to a company announcement.
The SiAW is an advanced air-to-ground weapon designed to strike rapidly relocatable targets within enemy anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) environments.
Its delivery signals the start of the weapon’s flight test program, which will validate the missile’s compatibility with launch aircraft and its safe separation during flight.
In September 2023, the U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman the SiAW contract. Since then, the company has focused on weapon development, platform integration, and preparations for the test program. The SiAW is slated for rapid prototyping and fielding by 2026.
Northrop Grumman highlighted the importance of the SiAW in addressing evolving battlefield challenges and ensuring mission readiness for the U.S. Air Force.
The Stand-In Attack Weapon (SiAW) Missile
Accorrding to Northrop, the U.S. Air Force’s SiAW missile system enables disruption of an Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) environment through rapid, lethal engagement of relocatable targets.
Northrop Grumman’s SiAW solution can be integrated on a variety of aircraft and leverages lessons learned on the Navy’s AARGM-ER and integration work on the F-35 aircraft.
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Damn, fourteen months from contract to test item! Impressive! Someone, somewhere, built a bonfire under Northrop Grumman.
I think as the missile is based on the HARM-AARGM-ER, a lot of the missile’s parameters are already known. What the statement doesn’t say, is which aircraft will be used as the initial test platform? Personally I think it’s likely to be either the F15 or F16. As an underwing release is easier to model and test compared to a weapon’s bay release. Besides, where on the list would SiAW be for the F35’s weapons integration program. As that would likely be a cause for delays.
How much is SiAW supposed to cost?
Would a Meteor derivative be competitive? I think the “light but fast missile” is a useful thing for targets defended against a Spear swarm but too time critical for a pre planned Storm Shadow.
Oh, btw,
Do you know if you could make an afterburning thrust reversed? As in, a reversing bucket either fitted with using the engine’s reheat equipment? I’m trying to work out whether, if you gave a UCAS like the Ghost Bat enough STOL kit like thrust reversal and big flaps, you could land and take off from a QE class without arrestor gear.
They did well, much the same with the B21, hopefully with digital design we are finally turning a corner on defence manufacturing.
Between this and the B-21 Raider, somebody needs to study Northrop to work out just how they’re getting things done so much faster than everyone else
its based on the AARGM-ER which is the modern HARM. in fact an EA-18G took out a houthi hind on the ground recently using the AARGM-ER as it already has the capability to strike non-radiating targets. im actually not sure what the difference will be- perhaps just removing all the electronic warfare bits and replacing it with sensors to attack moving targets? either way looks like be an excellent capability. looks like goes at mach 4.5 with a several hundred kilometer range
Anyone else expect this to get intergrated on the F-35 before spear does ?
it should be relatively quick. work is already well underway and perhaps already completed to integrate the AARGM-ER on all variants of the f-35, interestingly the UK was on the list of countries in that contract announcing the funding for the integration. it can be carried internally on the F-35A and C but i think on the B it will be limited to external carriage.