USAF Developing Swarming Cruise Missile Prototype

The US Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded two defense contractors more than $100 million each to design a missile with "networked, collaborative behaviors (swarming) to address Integrated Air Defense (IAD) system threats around the world," Lockheed Martin announced December 27.

The lab is partnering with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to complete a concept demonstration within five years for cheap cruise missiles that work together to defeat enemy air defenses.

The first "Gray Wolf" missiles will be tested from an F-16, Lockheed Martin said, noting that the weapon system will eventually be compatible with F-35, F-15, F/A-18, B-1, B-2 and B-52 aircraft — basically the entire existing US Air Force fleet.

"Lockheed Martin's concept for the Gray Wolf missile will be an affordable, counter-IAD missile that will operate in highly contested environments,"...