Washington, July 15 (IANS) The Pentagon has signed framework agreements with three new industry partners to accelerate the testing and qualification of low-cost, air-launched cruise missiles for the US Air Force.
The agreements with Anduril, CoAspire and Zone 5 cover the Family of Affordable Mass Missiles programme, known as FAMM.
The initiative seeks to rapidly validate a new family of inexpensive cruise missiles and expand US weapons production.
The Pentagon said the agreements were a direct result of its Acquisition Transformation Strategy.
The approach aims to give industry stable demand signals, procure industry-driven systems and make greater use of flexible contracts.
“The Arsenal of Freedom of the 21st Century requires doing business differently,” said Michael P. Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment.
“Today’s announcement showcases the Acquisition Transformation Strategy in action, expanding the defence industrial base, fielding capabilities faster, and attracting private investment to fund innovation and increase manufacturing output.”
A key part of the plan is the proposed establishment of seven-year agreements with companies whose weapons successfully complete validation and competitive selection.
The awards will be subject to Congressional appropriations and the enactment of all required authorisations.
Congress granted five-year authorisation for FAMM in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorisation Act.
The department is now seeking Congressional approval for a seven-year procurement programme through the fiscal 2027 defence authorisation and appropriations measures.
The longer procurement period is intended to provide stability to new entrants. It would allow manufacturers to invest in production while giving the Air Force a more predictable supply of weapons.
FAMM will offer lugged and palletised variants. The two versions are designed to provide the Air Force with flexible options for logistics, handling and deployment. Both will be acquired through a single combined competition.
FAMM first appeared in the Air Force’s fiscal 2026 budget proposal. It follows the Pentagon’s Low-Cost Containerised Missiles programme, which covers ground-launched variants of affordable cruise missiles. Together, the programmes are intended to provide large quantities of low-cost weapons to deter and defeat adversaries.
–IANS
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