The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a contract with a ceiling value of up to $100 million to support ongoing development and production activities for the Stand-In Attack Weapon and AARGM-ER programs, with work to be carried out in Northridge, California, through 2034.
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation a ceiling contract valued at up to $100 million to support continued development and production activities for two advanced strike weapon programs: the Stand-In Attack Weapon (SiAW) and the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile–Extended Range (AARGM-ER).
According to the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, the agreement will fund both research and development as well as production work through December 31, 2034.
Air Force officials stated that the contract covers efforts aligned with the Middle Tier Acquisition framework for the SiAW program, along with comprehensive support for the AARGM-ER. This includes hardware design and development, systems engineering, integration, modeling, qualification testing, and the establishment of repair capabilities for delivered test assets.
The award was made as a sole-source contract. At the time of issuance, the Air Force committed $18,701 in Fiscal Year 2025 research and development funding to initiate program work.
All contract activities will be conducted at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Northridge, California, where teams will focus on weapon system integration, modeling, testing, and long-term sustainment support for both programs.
The Stand-In Attack Weapon is intended to provide U.S. aircrews with the capability to strike high-value, heavily defended targets from within contested airspace, with the Middle Tier Acquisition approach enabling faster development timelines.
The AARGM-ER represents the next generation of U.S. anti-radiation missiles, designed to neutralize enemy air-defense radars at greater distances. Building on the original AARGM system, the extended-range variant features a redesigned airframe and internal upgrades to achieve supersonic performance and improved survivability.
While specific quantities and delivery timelines were not disclosed, the Air Force emphasized that the contract supports both advanced development efforts and repair capabilities for existing and future test assets.
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