Exclusive: Leidos’ Small Cruise Missile Launched from AC-130J Aircraft in Test for U.S. Special Forces Strike Missions.

Leidos, an American defense and technology company based in Reston, Virginia, successfully completed a guided flight test of its Small Cruise Missile (SCM), known as Black Arrow, in November 2024. The test, carried out from an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship aircraft, validated multiple key operational parameters including aircraft compatibility, overall system performance, waypoint uplinks, guidance accuracy, and successful integration with the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center's Battle Management System (BMS).
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Leidos' Black Arrow Small Cruise Missile moments after release from an AC-130J Ghostrider during a successful flight test conducted in support of U.S. Special Forces strike capabilities. (Picture source: Leidos)

The Small Cruise Missile (SCM), also nicknamed Black Arrow, represents a new generation of compact, adaptable weaponry. Weighing in at around 90 kg (200 pounds), it is designed as a low-cost, mission-flexible delivery platform. Its modular construction allows for spiral upgrades, enabling it to handle a broad range of kinetic and non-kinetic missions. This flexibility is vital in today’s fast-evolving battlefield environments where adaptable and scalable strike capabilities are becoming essential. One of the Black Arrow’s standout features is its multi-platform deployment capability. It can be launched using a custom Ramp Launch Tube (RLT) from the cargo ramp of a C-130 aircraft, deployed in a palletized configuration, or released from conventional fixed-wing aircraft stores. This makes it especially useful for Special Operations Forces, where agility and adaptability are paramount.

Leidos, the developer of the Black Arrow, is one of the leading defense and IT contractors in the United States. With a workforce of approximately 48,000 employees globally, the company plays a vital role in supporting national security missions through advanced technological solutions in defense, civil, and health markets. Within the defense sector, Leidos is recognized for its work in systems engineering, software development, and integrated weapons platforms.

The AC-130J Ghostrider, from which the missile was launched, is the latest variant in the U.S. Air Force's family of gunship aircraft. This heavily armed aircraft is engineered for close air support, air interdiction, and armed reconnaissance missions. It incorporates the Precision Strike Package, which includes state-of-the-art mission management systems, electro-optical and infrared sensors, a communications suite, and both 30mm and 105mm cannons. It also features the ability to deploy precision-guided munitions, giving it unmatched versatility and firepower to support special operations missions, especially in contested or denied environments.

The test of the Black Arrow was conducted under a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) that includes Leidos, the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), and the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). Speaking at the Special Air Warfare Symposium at Eglin Air Force Base in March 2025, Colonel Justin Bronder, USSOCOM Program Executive Officer for Fixed Wing, highlighted the significance of the SCM, stating that it is a key capability rapidly advancing AFSOC’s ability to close long-range kill chains—a critical function in modern high-threat theaters.

Model-based systems engineering practices underpin the development of Black Arrow and conforms to architecture standards advocated by the U.S. Air Force, including the Weapon Open System Architecture established by the Air Force Research Laboratory. This ensures not only cost-effectiveness and development speed but also compatibility and scalability across various operational platforms.

Leidos’ successful demonstration of the Black Arrow from an operational aircraft marks a crucial step toward rapidly fielding the missile system. With the rising importance of affordable mass and precision strike capabilities in modern warfare, Black Arrow stands out as a timely and strategically relevant solution designed to meet emerging threats with agility, precision, and operational flexibility.