Leidos completes successful test launch of a Small Cruise Missile

Leidos successfully completed a guided flight test of their Small Cruise Missile (SCM), known as Black Arrow, from an AC-130J aircraft. The test demonstrated aircraft compatibility, system performance, waypoint uplinks, guidance accuracy as well as integration with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Battle Management System (BMS).

The Black Arrow is a low cost, 200-lb class mission adaptable delivery platform designed to facilitate spiral upgrades for kinetic and non-kinetic missions. The test was conducted as part of a Collaborative Research and Development (CRADA) agreement between Leidos, the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).

“Performing this test from an AC-130 platform while also integrating with the BMS provided aircrews and operators a chance to see how well our SCM worked,” says Mark Miller, senior vice president for Missile and Aviation Systems at Leidos.

Speaking at the Special Air Warfare Symposium held at Eglin Air Force Base in March, Col. Justin Bronder, USSOCOM PEO-FW, noted that, “SCM is a key capability, rapidly advancing AFSOC's ability to close long-range kill chains.”

Since the SCM CRADA was initiated in 2022, the concept and benefits of affordable mass have become well recognized within the strike weapons community, and Black Arrow is designed to fulfil this need. Leidos is leveraging model-based system engineering practices to support the timely and cost-effective development. Use of Air Force-advocated architecture standards as well as the Air Force Research Laboratory's Weapon Open System Architecture are key design elements.

“Aligning to these stringent standards, while successfully demonstrating this capability from an operational aircraft, places us in a strong position to rapidly field Black Arrow if called upon to do so,” Miller says.

The missile is designed to be launched in a variety of methods, including launch ejection from a C-130 (or other cargo utility aircraft) ramp via a custom Ramp Launch Tube (RLT), palletized launch and conventional store release from fixed-wing aircraft.

Leidos is now under contract with USSOCOM to continue test and evaluation activities throughout 2025.