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Pentagon Signs Framework Deals With Three Firms for New Cruise Missiles but No Orders Yet
The Pentagon reached framework agreements Wednesday with three companies for the U.S. Air Force’s Family of Affordable Mass Missiles program. The deals target missiles at roughly $218,000 each, compared with more than $1.3 million for existing standoff weapons. Actual purchases require testing, qualification and congressional approval of multiyear funding.
Jul 15, 3:48 PM·1m read1 source
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The Pentagon reached framework agreements on Wednesday with three companies for the U.S. Air Force’s Family of Affordable Mass Missiles program. Defense News reported the agreements cover Anduril’s Barracuda-500, CoAspire’s Rapidly Adaptable Affordable Cruise Missile and Zone 5 Technologies’ Rusty Dagger.
The Air Force wants the new missiles at approximately $218,000 per round, well below the more than $1.3 million cost of each Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile. The FAMM missiles are designed for ranges of 250 to 500 miles and include a lugged variant carried by fighters and bombers plus a palletized variant dropped from airlifters.
Anduril’s framework agreement runs seven years with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027.
The Air Force intends to buy up to 8,000 FAMM rounds per year across both variants and all competing vendors, according to Anduril. Budget projections call for 28,000 missiles across all vendors over five years at a total cost of $12.6 billion, reaching 7,990 rounds in the final year. The framework agreements set terms and promise steady business but do not constitute orders for missiles.
The Defense Department said the weapons must still complete testing and qualification before any purchases can occur. Actual buys also depend on Congress approving the multiyear deals the Pentagon is seeking. The agreements stem from the Acquisition Transformation Strategy under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael P. Duffey stated the FAMM deals show the department expanding the defense industrial base, fielding capabilities faster, and attracting private investment. Zone 5 Technologies was acquired in June by Kongsberg, a Norwegian defense company, and runs its U.S.
