U.S. Air Force taps Northrop for next-gen missile production
The United States Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation a new ceiling contract worth up to $100 million to advance two key strike‑weapon programs: the Stand‑In Attack Weapon (SiAW) and the Advanced Anti‑Radiation Guided Missile–Extended Range (AARGM‑ER).
The agreement supports both production and research and development through December 31, 2034, according to the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
The service said the award “provides for efforts to support work that is aligned with the Stand‑in Attack Weapon Middle Tier Acquisition and to support both production and research and development for Advanced Anti‑Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range hardware design and development, systems engineering and integration, system modeling, qualification and testing as well as repair capability for delivered test assets.”
The contract was issued as a sole‑source acquisition. At the time of award, the Air Force obligated $18,701 in Fiscal 2025 research and development funds to begin program activities.
According to the Air Force, work will take place at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Northridge, California, where engineers will focus on hardware development, integration, modeling, and future sustainment capabilities for both weapon systems.
The Stand‑In Attack Weapon is being designed to give U.S. pilots the ability to engage high‑value, defended targets from inside contested airspace. The Middle Tier Acquisition pathway emphasizes accelerated development timelines.
The AARGM‑ER, meanwhile, is the U.S. military’s next‑generation anti‑radiation weapon, developed to defeat enemy air‑defense radars at extended range. It builds on the baseline AARGM program but incorporates a redesigned airframe and internal components to support supersonic speeds and increased survivability.
While the Air Force did not disclose quantities or delivery schedules, officials highlighted that the contract covers both developmental efforts and repair capability for test assets already fielded or delivered.
