The Air Force has granted Northrop Grumman a $705 million contract to develop a new ground-attack missile for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, aiming for initial operational functionality by 2026. Northrop emerged as the sole awardee for Phase 2 of the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) program. Meanwhile, L3Harris and Lockheed Martin opted out of the program’s second phase, citing concerns and their focus on other opportunities with the Air Force.
  

Key Points: 

1. The Air Force’s $705 million award to Northrop Grumman is for Phase 2 of the SiAW, with goals set for 2026.
2. Previously, three major contractors – Northrop, Lockheed Martin, and L3Harris – were involved in the final stage of the SiAW’s first phase.
3. L3Harris and Lockheed Martin decided not to continue with Phase 2, with both companies expressing future interests in Air Force projects.
4. The SiAW program aims to enhance the Air Force’s arsenal against a variety of targets, including cruise missile launchers and GPS jammers.
5. The total budget for the SiAW rapid prototyping endeavor is projected to be $1.14 billion, with future integration planned for the F-35A and other potential platforms.

Source: https://breakingdefense.com/2023/09/northrop-nabs-705m-air-force-award-for-new-f-35-air-to-ground-missile/