The Pentagon has inked agreements with three new industry partners to speed up the testing and qualification of budget-friendly, air-launched cruise missiles for the US Air Force. The deals involve Anduril, CoAspire, and Zone 5 and are part of the Family of Affordable Mass Missiles program, or FAMM. This initiative aims to swiftly validate a new range of cost-effective cruise missiles and enhance US weapons production capabilities.
According to the Pentagon, these agreements are a direct outcome of its Acquisition Transformation Strategy, which focuses on providing stable demand signals to industry, procuring industry-driven systems, and utilizing flexible contracts. Michael P. Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, emphasized the need for a new approach in the 21st-century defense industry, highlighting the importance of expanding the defense industrial base and accelerating the fielding of capabilities.
A crucial aspect of the plan involves establishing seven-year agreements with companies whose weapons successfully complete validation and competitive selection. However, the awards are contingent on Congressional appropriations and the fulfillment of all necessary authorizations. The department is currently seeking Congressional approval for a seven-year procurement program through the fiscal 2027 defense authorization and appropriations measures to provide stability to new entrants and ensure a predictable supply of weapons for the Air Force.
The Family of Affordable Mass Missiles program will include lugged and palletized variants to offer the Air Force versatile options for logistics, handling, and deployment, all acquired through a single combined competition. This program, introduced in the Air Force’s fiscal 2026 budget proposal, complements the Pentagon’s Low-Cost Containerized Missiles initiative, which focuses on ground-launched versions of affordable cruise missiles. Together, these programs aim to furnish a substantial quantity of low-cost weapons to deter and overcome adversaries.
