AFRL pursuing new air-to-air missile that’s smaller than AIM-9X

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) told Flight Global that its Small Advanced Capabilities Missile (SACM) will be smaller and cheaper than the AIM-9X.

Cuda
Photo: Bill Sweetman/AWST

“By enabling a high loadout capability and increased missile effectiveness, future fighters would be able to survive in the contested anti-access/area-denial environment and complete their missions with minimal losses,” the research body said in a prepared statement.

So far, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon have been given contracts to study the SACM concept.

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