U.S. Air Force taps Northrop for SiAW Subsystem
The United States Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a new contract worth up to $100 million to provide long-term support for the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) Subsystem, a key component in the service’s effort to field new strike capabilities against defended targets.
According to the contract announcement, the award is a ceiling $100,000,000 cost-reimbursement, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity agreement that will run through Dec. 31, 2034.
The contract will cover “active seeker specific support associated for components, test and evaluation support, science and technology development.”
The Air Force Lifecycle Management Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is overseeing the effort and confirmed that the award was issued as a sole-source acquisition. At the time of award, the service obligated $21,953 in Fiscal 2025 research and development funds to initiate work.
Northrop Grumman will perform all contracted work in Baltimore, Maryland, where the company’s advanced sensor and seeker development facilities are located.
The SiAW program centers on a new generation of precision weapons designed to operate inside contested airspace, requiring modern seekers able to detect, classify, and engage protected targets.
The contract provides support for components tied directly to the SiAW seeker, including continued development, testing, and technology maturation.
The Stand-in Attack Weapon is being developed to give U.S. aircraft the ability to strike high-value systems while remaining inside enemy threat rings — an approach meant to increase survivability and expand the range of tactical options for pilots.
The SiAW is expected to integrate onto platforms such as the F-35A and F-47, giving frontline combat aircraft a new tool to engage mobile air defense systems, command-and-control nodes, and other protected targets that require accurate real-time sensing and guidance.
The contract “provides for active seeker specific support,” reflecting the central role of sensor architecture in SiAW development.