The US Air Force and Northrop Grumman have completed a separation test of the Stand-In Attack Weapon (SiAW) from an F-16.
The test validated the missile’s flight safety and aerodynamics and marked progress toward integration with other platforms such as the F-35.
SiAW is an air‑to‑ground missile developed to strike high‑priority, rapidly moving targets inside contested and heavily defended areas.
Its digital engineering and open-architecture design allow for rapid subsystem upgrades.
“The separation test of SiAW from the F-16 is intended to provide the US Air Force validation of the weapon’s safe separation characteristics and also generate invaluable data for optimizing its performance,” stated Col. Gary E. Roos of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.
Emphasizing that the test represents an important step forward in the development of the SiAW program, VP of Advanced Weapons at Northrop Grumman Chuck Johnson highlighted that “with the insights from the separation test, we will continue missile development and ultimately, deliver a critical capability to the warfighter.”
Stand-In Attack Weapon Program
The latest SiAW test builds on previous 2024 trials, when the missile achieved its first successful launch from an F-16 Fighting Falcon, followed by Northrop Grumman’s delivery of a test missile to the US Air Force in November 2024.
The program stems from a $705-million contract awarded to Northrop Grumman in 2023 to supply SiAW missiles for the F-35 fleet, including testing and integration to ensure compatibility with fifth-generation fighters, with initial operational capability targeted for 2026.
