Lockheed working on new air-to-air hit-to-kill missile

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Lockheed Martin has confirmed it is working on a new hit-to-kill (HTK) air-to-air missile which would increase the number of weapons that could be carried by the company's stealthy F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter fifth-generation aircraft.

Called the "Cuda", the weapon would increase the F-35's air-to-air load-out from four Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles to eight of the proposed HTK weapons. For the F-22, the number of beyond visual range weapons the jet could carry might increase to as many as 14. The Raptor currently carries six AIM-120s and two Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinders.

"We are still waiting for our materials to be cleared for public release by the Air Force," Lockheed says. "So at this point there really isn't much we can say."

While the company is pitching the weapon to the US Air Force, it does not appear to be part of an active USAF developmental programme. But if the weapon were ever to be developed into an operational system, it could potentially be a game-changer.

"Great concept, assuming Lockheed Martin can get them to actually work," one knowledgeable source says. "I don't think there's a fighter pilot out there that wouldn't want more missiles for free, as long as there is no sacrifice to lethality."

If the weapon proceeds into development, the challenge will be to-at the very least-match the AMRAAM's attributes. The Lockheed concept would have to be as lethal and offer the same or better range. And, it must have a good off-boresight capability. Moreover, it must be fielded quickly and cheaply in the current budget environment. "If the answer to either of those is no, they will have a borderline insurmountable uphill battle," the source says.

Another source adds: "Let's just say if they can turn a missile into a 'hittile' that is a big deal."

Lockheed working on new air-to-air hit-to-kill missile

 

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Until a photo with an interesting caption appeared on the November 2012 issue of Air Force Magazine, few people had noticed that an F-35 display model at the Air Force Association Technology Expo 2012, had its weapon bays loaded with a brand new type of air-to-air missile: the Lockheed Martin “Cuda”.

“A Lockheed Martin model shows how its “’Cuda” concept for a small AMRAAM-class radar guided dogfight missile could triple the air-to-air internal loadout on an F-35. The missile is about the size of a Small Diameter Bomb and fits on an SDB-style rack.”

Photo caption aside, almost nothing is known about the “Cuda” missile.

“We are having some challenges getting information on Cuda cleared for public release,” Cheryl Amerine, Cuda POC at the Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, told The Aviationist.

“Cuda is a Lockheed Martin multi-role Hit-to-Kill (HTK) missile concept. Lockheed Martin has discussed the missile concept with the United States Air Force. The Cuda concept significantly increases the internal carriage capacity for 5th generation fighters (provides 2X to 3X capacity). Combat proven HTK technology has been in the US Army for over a decade. Bringing this proven HTK technology to the USAF will provide potentially transformational new capabilities and options for new CONOPS.”

The Hit-to-Kill missile technology Lockheed is designing for the USAF is still classified and some of the capabilities of the Cuda missile are being reviewed for public release. Still, something can be said based on the few details available.

First of all, the F-35 will carry kinetic energy interceptors: “hit-to-kill” weapons rely on the kinetic energy of the impact to destroy their target. That’s why some HTK missiles don’t carry any warhead (others use a lethality enhancer warhead).

The Aviationist » New (still quite secret) Hit-to-Kill missile for the F-35 unveiled: the Lockheed Martin “Cuda”