Leidos: Leidos Black Arrow Efficiently Examined from AC-130J Ghostrider Gunship

The Black Arrow Small Cruise Missile flew for an prolonged interval, assembly all take a look at aims, with additional take a look at and analysis actions scheduled all through 2025. Leidos lately disclosed that, in November 2024, it efficiently accomplished a guided flight take a look at of its Small Cruise Missile (SCM), also called Black Arrow, from an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship. The "Guided Flight Check 1" validated the "plane compatibility, system efficiency, waypoint uplinks, steerage accuracy in addition to integration with the Naval Floor Warfare Middle Battle Administration System (BMS)," mentioned the corporate. The system has superior past its "captive carry and store-safe separation flight checks" performed in December 2023-first introduced in October 2024, when the long run "guided flight take a look at" was additionally revealed. That take a look at passed off a month later, in November 2024. Each phases of testing have been carried out utilizing an AC-130J. The mission is a CRADA (Collaborative Analysis and Improvement) effort between Leidos, the USSOCOM (United States Particular Operations Command) and AFSOC (Air Drive Particular Operations Command), overseen by the USSOCOM's PEO-FW (Program Govt Workplace-Mounted Wing). [NEWS] Leidos completes profitable take a look at launch of a Small Cruise Missile. @Dynetics pic.twitter.com/8H9K7XqXHt - Leidos (@LeidosInc) March 31, 2025 The take a look at Leidos describes the Black Arrow as a "low price, 200 pound class mission adaptable supply platform designed to facilitate spiral upgrades for each kinetic and non-kinetic missions." The outline means that the missile is a modular system with swappable steerage, seeker and navigation modules for varied mission wants, a few of which could additionally contain SEAD/DEAD (Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Protection) with radar baiting and decoy methods. It seems that the missile was examined just for its kinematic capabilities because the video talked about the SCM "flew for an prolonged interval assembly all take a look at aims, together with vary, length and terminal accuracy." The anticipated efficiency benchmarks for these attributes haven't but been disclosed. Nonetheless, Leidos has confirmed it's now "below contract with USSOCOM" for added "take a look at and analysis actions all through 2025." These probably broader checks are anticipated to evaluate the person and built-in efficiency of the missile's seekers, steerage system, navigation, and-if included-mid-course replace functionality. A screengrab displaying the 2 RLTs on the AC-130J's ramp through the newest take a look at. The video exhibits the SCM being launched from a palletized system, referred to as the Ramp Launch Tubes (RLT) on the AC-130J gunship's open ramp. The missile is launched by rolling it off tail-first. As soon as away from the ramp, the missile's tail fins deploy, whereas the wing, a single piece mounted on the highest of the physique, rotates to the flight place. The video then exhibits the missile travelling in direction of the designated space after the engine ignites. It's unclear what sort of propulsion is used, and the InfraRed digicam footage doesn't permit to establish it. Air intakes, if any, will not be seen, though this sort of weapon normally employs a small jet engine or a rocket motor. The missile shouldn't be proven hitting any goal, however is captured from totally different angles and distances, presumably from an EO (Electro-Optical) system on board the AC-130J. It's being reported, nonetheless, that the SCM performed the whole flight profile together with the influence in opposition to an unknown goal. Missile functionality Whereas low-cost, modular and scalable mass is one factor, the flexibility to obtain and commerce focusing on updates mid-flight is essential and a significant characteristic for brand spanking new technology weapons. This may in any other case prohibit the missile to assaults solely in opposition to recognized mounted targets, requiring days, if not weeks, of prior reconnaissance, surveillance, with out the flexibility to interact targets of alternative. Leidos says it has employed "model-based system engineering practices" to attain "well timed and cost-effective improvement" of the Black Arrow. Using "Air Drive-advocated structure requirements" and the Air Drive Analysis Laboratory's Weapon Open System Structure within the design would permit quickly modifying, swapping or upgrading sections on the missile, probably with out having to depend upon the first contractor, on this case Leidos. A screengrab displaying the Black Arrow SCM, circled in crimson, as seen by means of an IR digicam shortly after engine begin. "Aligning to those stringent requirements, whereas efficiently demonstrating this functionality from an operational plane, locations us in a powerful place to quickly subject Black Arrow if known as upon," Leidos's senior vice-president for Missile and Aviation Techniques Mark Miller mentioned. Beside an RLT launch from cargo plane, the Black Arrow can be launched from a palletized system and "typical retailer launch from fixed-wing plane." The palletized launch may discover use with the U.S. Air Drive and the AFRL's Fast Dragon mission. The weapon of selection right here is at present the bigger AGM-158 JASSM. The smaller Black Arrow, taking much less house on the plane, may be fired in bigger numbers, and even in a paired coordinated launch with the JASSM. The opportunity of testing Black Arrow on the F-15E Strike Eagle or the newer F-15EX can't be dominated out, since they're additionally envisioned to function as "bomb and missile vans" in future eventualities. Leidos' assertion added that the Black Arrow met the wants of "inexpensive mass" that the SCM CRADA sought because it was fashioned in 2022. The Dec. 2023 trials already confirmed "digital twin predictions of secure separation, benign retailer dynamics, and trajectory traits." Additional testing "demonstrated integration with the Naval Floor Warfare Middle Battle Administration System (BMS), operational flight software program perform, navigation efficiency, and flight security system performance." [NEWS] Leidos pronounces the 'Black Arrow' has efficiently accomplished first checks. https://t.co/Uq0d3Ovj4Q - Leidos (@LeidosInc) October 3, 2024 Reasonably priced, modular mass with shorter kill chains Miller added within the firm's launch that "performing this take a look at from an AC-130 platform whereas additionally integrating with the BMS offered aircrews and operators an opportunity to see how properly our SCM labored." The assertion additionally quoted USSOCOM's PEO-FW Col. Justin Bronder, who mentioned through the Particular Air Warfare Symposium at Eglin AFB in March that the "SCM is a key functionality, quickly advancing AFSOC's skill to shut long-range kill chains." The Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Research has famous an rising Chinese language doctrine to "disrupt components" within the kill-chain involved with goal acquisition and monitoring between the sensor and shooter, slightly than participating the weapon or the launching platform itself. Whereas this might be achieved by superior EW (Digital Warfare), a sector the place each Beijing and Moscow have made important strides, longer kill chains in long-range standoff strikes, with a number of parts within the community in a position to coordinate, are essentially the most susceptible to this method. Black Arrow additionally arrives at a time when the U.S. army is low-cost one-way assault drones that would double up as cruise missiles for swarming strikes with attritable platforms. A screengrab displaying the 2 RLTs on the AC-130J's ramp through the newest take a look at.