Military
Air Force Eyes Mini Missiles to Protect Vulnerable Tanker Fleet
The U.S. Air Force is exploring miniature hit-to-kill missiles to defend its tanker aircraft against increasingly capable enemy long-range missiles threatening operations far from the front lines.
Key Takeaways
- The MSDM is approximately 3.3 feet long, one-third the size of the AIM-9X Sidewinder missile
- Raytheon received a 2020 contract for a flight-test-ready mini missile; Lockheed Martin also participates
- Adversary missiles with ranges up to 1,000 miles are driving urgency to protect KC-46 and KC-135 tankers
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DT Editorial AI··via twz.com