F-16 Fighting Falcon News

December 3, 2024 (by Lieven Dewitte) - A tactical air-to-surface missile, known as the Stand-in Attack Weapon, successfully released from a 40th Flight Test Squadron F-16C for the first time Nov. 7 over a range in the Gulf of Mexico.
The goal of the test was to prove the new weapon could separate from an aircraft successfully, a major milestone, so further testing can begin.

The new SiAW missile is designed to provide strike capability against rapidly relocatable targets like cruise and antiship missile launchers and jamming platforms. The test missile used, called a jettison test vehicle (JTV), contained no rocket motor or internal electronics. The JTV is a tool used specifically to determine whether the weapon safely separates from the aircraft upon commanded release.

Prime contractor Northrop Grumman announced the delivery of the first SiAW test article last month, but it is not clear. The missile is derived from the AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range (AARGM-ER), which has already been in flight testing for years now.

The F-35A Lightning II is expected to be the first operational platform for the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW), with its design enabling internal carriage of the missile. This configuration enhances the jet's stealth by maintaining a clean radar profile, but additional separation testing is required to ensure safe and effective integration. Beyond the F-35A, the Air Force has indicated that the SiAW could also be deployed on "future stealth aircraft." These may include the B-21 Raider, a next-generation stealth bomber, and potentially uncrewed platforms.

The SiAW is a critical component of modernizing airpower, as it targets advanced threats such as integrated air defense systems and mobile missile launchers. Its integration across multiple stealth platforms underscores the U.S. military's focus on adaptable, multi-role capabilities to maintain dominance in highly contested environments.