Raytheon built its 2,000th Griffin precision low-collateral missile carried by Air Force AC-130W and Marine Corps KC-130J Harvest Hawk gunships, according to a Feb. 5 company release. “The Griffin missile has proven to be an effective way of doing business for special operations forces,” said 1st Lt. Ben Marshall, US Special Operations Command Det. 1 precision-guided weapon program manager. Since Griffin production began in 2008, “the capability has steadily improved, where effectiveness and reliability rule the day,” he said. The Griffin Block III variant, currently in production, boasts a new seeker head with better accuracy, as well as a “multi-effect” warhead that improves lethality, according to Raytheon. The improved version of this 33-pound, aft-firing missile is expected to equip special operations units in the coming months.
Shield AI, a specialist vying to provide the autonomy software for the Air Force’s autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft, has won government backing for its X-BAT drone—but not from USAF.