The US will spend $100 million on SiAW and AARGM-ER by 2034.
The U.S. Air Force signed a $100 million ceiling contract with Northrop Grumman for SiAW and AARGM-ER until December 31, 2034; initial disbursement of $18,701, to be made in Northridge, California.
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation a ceiling contract worth up to $100 million to advance two key offensive weapons programs: the Stand-In Attack Weapon (SiAW) and the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile–Extended Range (AARGM-ER). The contract supports both production and research and development through December 31, 2034, according to the U.S. Air Force Lifecycle Management Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
The contract was awarded as an exclusive procurement. At the time of awarding the contract, the Air Force allocated $18,701 from its Fiscal Year 2025 research and development fund to kickstart the program. Work will be performed at Northrop Grumman's facility in Northridge, California.
Scope of work as per contract
According to the announcement, the contract provides work support efforts consistent with the SiAW Intermediate Procurement Pathway; and supports the production and research and development of AARGM-ER, including hardware design, system engineering and integration, system modeling, testing and capability assessment, and repair capabilities for delivered test assets.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ceiling value | Up to $100 million |
| Duration | By December 31, 2034 |
| Agency | U.S. Air Force Lifecycle Management Center (Eglin, Florida) |
| Contractor | Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation |
| Form | Exclusive shopping |
| Initial disbursement | $18,701 USD (R&D fund for Fiscal Year 2025) |
| Location of execution | Northridge, California |
| Main scope | SiAW: Suitable for Intermediate Procurement Pathways; AARGM-ER: Hardware Design, Systems Engineering & Integration, Modeling, Testing & Evaluation, Tested Asset Repair Capabilities |
The technical and tactical objectives of each program.
SiAW
The Stand-In Attack Weapon was designed to allow American pilots to strike high-value, protected targets from within disputed space.
AARGM-ER
The AARGM-ER is a next-generation anti-radiation guided weapon developed to neutralize enemy air defense radars at long range. It builds upon the basic AARGM program but features a redesigned airframe and internal components to support supersonic speeds and increased survivability.
Implementation and testing
Engineers at Northridge will focus on developing hardware, integration, modeling, and maintenance capabilities for both future weapon systems.
Progress and handover
The Air Force did not disclose the number or delivery schedule. Officials emphasized that the contract included development efforts and repair capabilities for deployed or delivered test assets.
According to Defence-blog.