Normal Atomics has supplied a take a look at a brand new air-to-surface missile it’s growing. The emergence of the mission comes at a time of nice and nonetheless rising curiosity, particularly throughout the U.S. army, in new air-launched strike munitions, significantly ones that are cheaper and easier to produce than current designs.
A rendering of the brand new weapon from General Atomics’ Electromagnetic Systems Group, at present referred to easily because the “Strike Missile,” is on show on the firm’s sales space on the Surface Navy Association’s main annual symposium that kicked off this week. An organization consultant on the present flooring couldn’t present TWZ with any extra info and cautioned that the identify may change sooner or later.
From what may be seen within the rendering, the slab-sided design with two lugs on high options an air-breathing propulsion system with a single ventral consumption. An extended rectangular strake can be seen alongside the physique and there are 4 extra fins on the tail finish. There aren’t any different clear indications as but about its measurement, efficiency, and different specs.
An image of the Strike Missile rendering on show at Normal Atomics’ sales space on the 2025 Floor Navy Affiliation predominant annual symposium. Joseph Trevithick
TWZ isn’t conscious of any previous forays on Normal Atomics’ half into the realm of conventional air-to-surface missile improvement. The corporate’s web site does mention past experience with developing surface-to-surface and surface-to-air munitions, together with lower-cost and modular designs. Its Aeronautical Techniques division also has extensive experience with air-launched drones.
A rendering of the Normal Atomics Fast Reasonably priced Modular Missile (RAMM), a surface-to-air missile design. Normal Atomics
A mannequin of Normal Atomics’ Eaglet, one in all quite a lot of air-launched drones the corporate has been growing in recent times. Howard Altman
Typically, as TWZ has noted in the past, the road between uncrewed aerial programs, particularly longer-range kamikaze drones, and cruise missiles, in addition to decoys carrying digital warfare payloads, is more and more blurry. A single modular design may very well be configured to carry out completely different mission units, as nicely.
Normal Atomics’ personal Superior Air Launched Results (A2LE) uncrewed aerial system is an efficient instance of the more and more blurry line between drones, cruise missiles, and decoys. Normal Atomics
As already talked about, the U.S. army may be very excited about buying new air-launched strike munitions, particularly lower-cost sorts that may be produced readily at scale, however that additionally nonetheless supply considerable vary. Pursuing these sorts of weapons is more and more seen as very important for providing sufficient strike capacity in future conflicts, particularly high-end ones like a combat within the Pacific in opposition to China, and allowing for the relatively rapid replenishment of stockpiles.
The U.S. Navy’s Multi-Mission Affordable Capacity Effector (MACE) and U.S. Air Power’s Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) are prime examples of latest initiatives which have emerged simply previously yr to assist deal with these wants, following on from years of other similar efforts. The Air Power and the Pentagon’s Protection Innovation Unit (DIU) are engaged on one other mission called the Enterprise Test Vehicle (ETV), which may very well be a stepping stone to new lower-cost cruise missiles. Normal Atomics isn’t one of many 4 corporations – Anduril Industries, Integrated Solutions for Systems, Inc., Leidos subsidiary Dynetics, and Zone 5 Technologies – identified to have obtained ETV contracts.
The Anduril barracuda-500M, one of many designs now being developed beneath the Enterprise Take a look at Automobile program. Anduril
It additionally emerged final yr that ERAM is primarily centered on delivering a new air-launched munition capability to Ukraine. The Pentagon has since disclosed that Denmark and the Netherlands are concerned in that specific effort, as nicely. This underscores the extra curiosity in these sorts of lower-cost air-launched strike munitions that exists exterior of america.
Altogether it’s unsurprising that Normal Atomics could be seeking to enter this rising market area. As well as, having a weapon like this throughout the firm’s portfolios means it is also pitched straight together with its uncrewed plane choices to new and current operators. This may very well be particularly pertinent with regards to current designs just like the MQ-9 Reaper which have proven to be increasingly vulnerable even to opponents with relatively limited air defense capabilities. Normal Atomics has beforehand offered a imaginative and prescient of the Reaper as a potential stand-off munitions ‘truck,’ which may very well be one technique to attempt to help ensure their relevance in future conflicts. The Strike Missile may have the ability to fit inside internal bays, in addition to beneath the wings, of different drone designs, including the one General Atomics is developing as a part of the Air Power’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.
A rendering of an MQ-9-series drone in Royal Australian Air Power (RAAF) colours armed with 4 Joint Strike Missile (JSM) cruise missiles. Raytheon in america collectively developed the JSM with Norway’s Kongsberg. Normal Atomics A rendering depicting an MQ-9 Reaper in Royal Australian Air Power markings carrying 4 Joint Strike Missile (JSM) cruise missiles, in addition to different shops. Normal Atomics
Whereas little is thought about Normal Atomics’ new Strike Missile, we hope to be taught extra. Regardless, it’s the newest instance of a still-growing pattern within the emergence of latest air-launched munitions throughout the U.S. protection sector.
Contact the writer: joe@twz.com
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