Actuators developed by Moog for the Leidos’ Arrow Small Cruise Missile (SCM) were successfully tested from an AC-130J close air support aircraft’s cargo ramp.

The test from the AC-130J served to validate Black Arrow SCM’s parameters like manoeuvrability, accuracy, endurance, and range. Actuators have an important role in the first two of these, as they have to ensure the desired agility as the sole control surfaces on a cruise missile and apply corrections on the missile’s course from the guidance system.

Moog’s actuators are also used by the PAC-3 MSE air defence missile of the MIM-104 Patriot air defence system.

Black Arrow Cruise Missile

Black Arrow is being developed by Leidos as an answer to the U.S. DoD’s call for lighter and more affordable cruise missiles to complement the highly capable but heavy and costly cruise missiles like AGM-158 or JSM.

The missile is stated to be about 100 kg in weight, with a modular design to take on different missions. The proposed configurations include not only warhead-fitted ones but also non-kinetic effect ones, such as decoy or stand-in jammer.

Launch platforms are planned as not only aircraft but also ships and ground platforms.

Other Small Cruise Missile Works in the U.S.

Other than Leidos, Lockheed Martin and Anduril are also working on smaller cruise missiles with identical features.

Lockheed Martin is developing the CMMT while Anduril is developing the Barracuda family.

CMMT is being developed as a modular missile with swappable components in two versions for fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. There will also be a special system for launch from cargo aircraft bays.

Anduril’s Barracuda family consists of 50 kg (Barracuda-100), 125 kg (Barracuda-250), and 250 kg variants (Barracuda-500). Barracuda-100 and Barracuda-250 can be launched from both aircraft and surface, while Barracuda-500 is reserved for aircraft.

Author: Kaan Azman

Editor: Özgür Ekşi