The US Air Force has contracted with three American defense companies – Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and L3Harris Technologies – to develop a stand-in assault weapon (SiAW) for the F-35 fighters. By Defense Newsthis will allow them to hit enemy ground-based air defense systems, including mobile ones, as well as cruise and ballistic missile launchers.
The terms of reference emphasize that backup systems may not be as long-range as long-range missiles launched from B-52 missile carriers.
At the same time, they should be placed in the interior of the aircraft so as not to affect the stealth of the F-35 for radar.
The contract with each company is estimated at $ 2 million, the results of the study should be presented within three months. At the same time, it is planned to spend 78 million dollars on the purchase of 42 missile samples.
Previously, the Finnish Ministry of Defense intend to place 64 American F-35 fighters at the airbase in the city of Rovaniemi. Rovaniemi is located 8 km south of the Arctic Circle, about 150 km from the Russia-Finland border.
In December last year, the Finnish authorities announced their intention to purchase F-35 fighters from the USA to replace the obsolete F / A-18. The first batch of aircraft is expected to be deployed in Rovaniemi in 2026.
Source: Gazeta
