Stand-in Attack Weapon might become a very potent invisible missile – Technology Org
The SiAW (Stand-in Attack Weapon) is expected to be operational in three years. It will be a stealthier, more capable missile, which can be used against a wider range of different targets.
SiAW is a version of the well-known AGM-88 HARM missile. HARM is an air-to-surface missile that targets radars and communication equipment – it selects targets based on those radio signals. AGM-88 HARM is far from a new invention – these missiles have been produced since 1983 and entered service as early as 1985.
AGM-88 HARM on FA-18C. The Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) is going to be a variant of this missile. Image credit: US Navy Photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Brian Fleske via Wikimedia
The HARM platform is made for NATO fighter jets. For example, Italy uses these missiles with Panavia Tornado fighters. However, Ukraine also received an undisclosed number of these missiles and launched them from their Soviet fighter jets. How is that possible?
Well, it’s not revealed to the public. However, even NATO countries with Soviet fighter jets did not have this option before. It is assumed that the HARM missiles were modified to be compatible with Soviet jets and probably not all of their settings were available to Ukrainian pilots.
The SiAW (Stand-in Attack Weapon) is a version of the HARM missile. Its program was launched last May. The SiAW will be able to engage a wider range of targets, including ballistic missile launchers, cruise and anti-ship missile launchers, GPS jammers and anti-satellite systems.
The SiAW will also hide its own signals more carefully so that it cannot be detected early and the aircraft that launched it cannot be tracked down. STEALTH is the keyword of the future of combat.
One of the planned characteristics of this missile is its ability to find a target using the signals it generates itself, not just signals received from the target. This increases its effectiveness in conditions where the target is hidden or operating in radio silence.
The SiAW project, military experts say, is a response to the growing threat from Russia and China, which are seeking to build a dense integrated air defense system.
Three major US defense companies are currently working on the SiAW: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and L3Harris Technologies. They received contracts from the US Air Force to develop the concept and demonstrate the technology of the new missile.
The SiAW will be based on the architecture of the AARGM-ER (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range), but will have a number of modifications to adapt to the latest requirements of the US Air Force and to expand the range of possible targets.
In addition, the SiAW will have to fit inside the internal weapons bay of an F-35 fighter or B-21 bomber in order not to interfere with the aircraft’s STEALTH design, which hides the aircraft from radar. This will put limitations on the dimensions of this missile.
The SiAW is set to become operational in 2026. It is a fairly short amount of time to develop such a weapon, but these companies are not working from scratch. The SiAW is a variant of the HARM platform, even if a highly advanced one.
Sources: Focus.ua , Wikipedia