The Black Arrow, also called the Small Cruise Missile, has accomplished a guided flight check from an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship, the weapon’s producer, Leidos, has confirmed. The Black Arrow, which is meant to hold a spread of various payloads, and never only a kinetic warhead, arrives at a time when the Pentagon is harnessing the potential of lower-cost weapons that may be readily produced at scale to fulfill the likely demands of future conflicts.
Leidos solely just lately introduced the flight check though it occurred final November. The corporate additionally printed a video of the check, displaying Black Arrow being launched from a pair of Ramp Launch Tubes (RLT) mounted on the rear ramp of the AC-130J. The Black Arrow is launched tail-first from the RLT, after which its single-piece pop-out wing deploys. The motor can then be seen beginning. The weapon’s subsequent affect into the bottom is just not proven within the video.
A pair of Ramp Launch Tubes (RLT) loaded with Black Arrow SCMs on the rear ramp of an AC-130J. Leidos screencap
Cruciform tailfins deploy because the Black Arrow SCM is ejected from the RLT. Leidos screencap
In addition to utilizing the RLT, Leidos says that Black Arrow will be launched from a palletized system or conventionally launched from a shops pylon on a fixed-wing plane.
“The check demonstrated plane compatibility, system efficiency, waypoint uplinks, steering accuracy in addition to integration with the Naval Floor Warfare Middle Battle Administration System (BMS),” the corporate mentioned in a media launch.
The check was carried out as a part of a Collaborative Analysis and Growth (CRADA) settlement between Leidos, the U.S. Particular Operations Command (SOCOM), and the Air Power Particular Operations Command (AFSOC).
Weighing round 200 kilos, the Black Arrow is meant to be a low-cost “mission-adaptable supply platform,” relatively than a standard munition. This implies it may be configured for each kinetic and non-kinetic missions. On the similar time, it’s designed to facilitate spiral upgrades.
The CRADA program for the SCM, now generally known as Black Arrow, started in 2022, since when the curiosity in so-called reasonably priced mass has solely grown. Leidos says it has used model-based system engineering practices in addition to open system structure to make sure that Black Arrow is reasonably priced and will be constructed quickly at scale, if required.
“SCM is a key functionality, quickly advancing AFSOC’s capability to shut long-range kill chains,” Col. Justin Bronder, SOCOM PEO Mounted Wing, mentioned on the Particular Air Warfare Symposium held at Eglin Air Power Base, Florida, final month.
Beforehand, we had gotten our first glimpse of what was then solely generally known as the Small Cruise Missile when SOCOM included an image of it in a briefing at the annual SOF Week conference in Could of final yr.
An image of a briefing slide containing the picture from the Small Cruise Missile check that was proven on the SOF Week convention in Could of 2024. Jamie Hunter
On the time, SOCOM mentioned the SCM was one among its high priorities and could possibly be launched from the MC-130J Commando II particular operations tanker/transport plane, in addition to the AC-130J, and probably different platforms.
Including standoff strike capabilities to plane like these is seen as a crucial manner to make sure their continued relevance, particularly in future high-end conflicts, together with a possible one within the Pacific towards China. For the AC-130J, particularly, with the ability to deal with targets comparatively shortly removed from the present station it’s on would enable it to assist strikes throughout a a lot bigger geographical space.
Proper now the plane can drop Small Diameter Bombs, at a spread of dozens of miles. That will be enhanced massively with a small cruise missile. A missile with a 200 mile vary would enable the AC-130 to strike targets anyplace inside a 125,664 sq. mile circle round it. An SDB, with say a spread of say 30 miles when dropped from the AC-130’s launch altitude and velocity, permits the plane to strike anyplace inside a 2,827 sq. mile circle. So we’re speaking a few huge distinction right here in functionality
Then there may be utilizing the plane as a standoff weapons supply platform in a high-end struggle the place it’s direct hearth capabilities will likely be of much less worth as a result of vary of contemporary enemy air defenses. You’ll be able to be taught all about the way forward for AC-130 in our video beneath:
Earlier than that, in 2021, SOCOM issued a contracting notice relating to a Stand-Off Precision Guided Weapon Program Cruise Missile outlining curiosity in a weapon of this kind. The specs included a spread of between 200 and 400 nautical miles (round 230 and 460 miles) whereas the weapon was required to suit inside a standardized cylindrical Frequent Launch Tube (CLT).
A Frequent Launch Tube. Systima
The dimensions and weight of the SCM/Black Arrow guidelines out its carriage in a CLT, which may accommodate payloads as much as 42 inches in size and 5.95 inches in diameter, and has a 100-pound weight restrict, in response to SOCOM.
The Stand-Off Precision Guided Weapon Program Cruise Missile discover additionally outlined a requirement for an electro-optical/infrared seeker, with plans to include a multi-mode seeker package deal “capable of purchase and/or reacquire targets in flight.” Different key attributes specified within the discover have been a long-range, datalink connection to Situational Consciousness Knowledge Hyperlink (SADL) (threshold) and SADL/Hyperlink-16 (goal), resilient GPS/INS to work in a denied GPS atmosphere, “a sensor able to figuring out targets as soon as over the goal space, and a payload to impact the goal,” the discover added.
Leidos says it’s below contract with SOCOM to proceed Black Arrow check and analysis actions all through 2025.
At this stage, nonetheless, it’s unclear what extra platforms it is perhaps examined on, or what sorts of payloads is perhaps concerned.
The dimensions and weight of Black Arrow would render it appropriate for carriage by a variety of platforms, together with drones.
Black Arrow additionally arrives at a time when the U.S. army, extra typically, is low-cost air vehicles that could be turned into cruise missiles, in addition to digital attackers.
Central to those issues is the flexibility to increase the out there industrial base to assist stock up on more affordable weapons forward of a future high-end battle, comparable to one towards China, and sustaining these inventories in a protracted struggle.
The Air Power is now operating the Enterprise Test Vehicle (ETV) program, with a view to addressing a few of these provide chain points, and particularly as a stepping stone to a brand new lower-cost cruise missile.
Leidos subsidiary Dynetics — alongside Anduril Industries, Integrated Solutions for Systems, Inc., and Zone 5 Technologies — was chosen in July of final yr to design, construct, and flight check an ETV idea.
Curiously, the Dynetics providing for the Air Power’s ETV program looks to be very similar to the SCM/Black Arrow.
A picture of the Dynetics ETV design idea. Leidos Dynetics through DIU
With testing of the SCM/Black Arrow persevering with below SOCOM contract, and with the identical design apparently additionally being supplied for the Air Power’s ETV initiative, it can definitely be fascinating to see what’s subsequent in retailer for the Leidos product.
Contact the creator: thomas@thewarzone.com
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