Leidos (NYSE:LDOS), a FORTUNE® 500 innovation leader, announced today that its small cruise missile (SCM) — nicknamed the “Black Arrow” in recognition of its range and lethality — has successfully completed captive carry and store safe separation flight tests in preparation for guided flight tests from a U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) aircraft scheduled for this fall. Store separation testing from an AC-130J, conducted in December 2023, confirmed digital twin predictions of safe separation, benign store dynamics, and trajectory characteristics. Additional captive flight testing demonstrated integration with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Battle Management System (BMS), operational flight software function, navigation performance, and flight safety system functionality. Understanding the Defense Department’s critical need for affordable stand-off strike capabilities, Leidos initiated work on the SCM design in 2021.
In 2022, a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) was signed between the company and U.S. Special Operations Command PEO-Fixed Wing and AFSOC. Following this agreement, the team began developing SCM, a low-cost, service-common, mission-adaptable “delivery platform” designed to facilitate future spiral upgrades for both kinetic and non-kinetic missions. Leidos is leveraging model-based systems engineering, additive manufacturing, and AI optimization practices to support the timely and cost-effective development of the SCM, which aims to provide adaptability and utility for the warfighter. One example is a modular airframe and open system architecture that accommodates distributed manufacturing for individual subsystems, which can then be rapidly assembled and tested separately before final assembly. This approach has been utilized by the company’s SGM program, which has delivered over 4,000 units to date.
“Our experience in rapidly fielding the GBU-69 Small Glide Munition (SGM) and demonstrating the DARPA X-61 Gremlins, as well as our focus on agility and innovation, have led to achieving important milestones with our small cruise missile offering. We have navigated hurdles and made significant investments to integrate on — and test off — the AC-130J, preparing us to proceed with further activities once the CRADA is complete. Affordable mass at long range is a recognized concept in the strike systems community. Our open architecture SCM solution is intended to integrate the best subsystem solutions, regardless of the source. We believe that recognizing that subsystems and payloads will evolve with different use cases is critical and that innovation will come from outside typical prime contractors and venture capital companies entering the market with vertically integrated solutions,” said Mark Miller, senior vice president for missile and aviation solutions at Leidos.
Leidos Holdings, Inc. is an American defense, aviation, information technology, and biomedical research company headquartered in Reston, Virginia, that provides scientific, engineering, systems integration, and technical services. Leidos is a Fortune 500® innovation company rapidly addressing the world’s most vexing challenges in national security and health. The company’s global workforce of 48,000 collaborates to create smarter technology solutions for customers in heavily regulated industries. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $15.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023. Founded as Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Leidos merged with Lockheed Martin’s IT sector, Information Systems & Global Solutions (Lockheed Martin IS&GS), in August 2016 to create the defense industry’s largest IT services provider. The Leidos-Lockheed Martin merger is one of the biggest transactions thus far in the consolidation of the defense sector. Leidos contracts extensively with the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Intelligence Community, as well as other U.S. government agencies and select commercial markets.
