Northrop Grumman to Develop Stand-in Attack Weapon for USAF

The United States Air Force (USAF) has contracted Northrop Grumman for its planned Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW)- an air-to-ground weapon designed to clear enemy air defense systems at supersonic speeds.

Northrop Grumman explained in a press release that “SiAW is an air-to-ground weapon that will provide strike capability to defeat rapidly relocatable targets as part of an enemy’s anti-access/area denial environment. To adapt to ever-changing threats, the missile design features open architecture interfaces that will allow for rapid subsystem upgrades to field enhanced capabilities to the warfighter.”

According to Interesting Engineering, Northrop Grumman will further develop the weapon in the next 36 months, conduct platform integration, and complete the flight test program for rapid prototyping in preparation for rapid fielding.

Susan Bruce, vice president of advanced weapons at Northrop Grumman, added that “Northrop Grumman’s SiAW delivers on the Air Force’s desire for its first digital weapons acquisition and development program. With our expert digital engineering capabilities, this next-generation missile represents an adaptable, affordable way for the Department of Defense to buy and modernize weapons.”

The SiAW missile utilizes multiple seeker sensors, GPS, and other navigational systems. It employs tail control and boasts enhanced survivability capabilities, and can neutralize quickly moving targets that form part of an adversary’s anti-access or aerial denial system. Northrop has also stated that the SiAW will feature an “open architecture” to facilitate quick subsystem upgrades for improved capabilities.