Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) was awarded a potential three-year, $705 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to build and deliver an air-to-ground missile using its digital engineering capabilities.
The company said Monday it will design and test the Stand-in Attack Weapon as part of the second phase of the service branch’s first digital weapons acquisition and development program.
SiAW, which is targeted to achieve initial operating capability by 2026, is envisioned to strike and defeat rapidly relocatable targets within the enemy’s area denial territory. It will employ open architecture technology to enable military operators to conduct continuous and quick upgrades.
Under Phase II of the SiAW project, Northrop will refine the weapon’s features, perform platform integration and lead prototyping-related flight tests. It will carry out its tasks at its facility in Northridge, California, and at Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in West Virginia.
“This next-generation missile represents an adaptable, affordable way for the Department of Defense to buy and modernize weapons,” said Susan Bruce, vice president of advanced weapons at Northrop.
