The Special Operations Command awarded Leidos a $27.2 million contract on July 8 to produce the AGM-190A Havoc Spear cruise missile. The agreement supports low-rate initial production of the weapon, with deliveries expected around next fall. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has already employed the missile in combat within US Africa Command’s area of responsibility, launching two units from an AC-130J aircraft to strike separate targets.
What it means
The Havoc Spear is a 200-pound class munitions system with a range exceeding 400 nautical miles. Developed through a cooperative research and development agreement that began in 2022, the weapon addresses a Special Operations Command requirement for affordable mass firepower. AFSOC intends to integrate the missile into the Air Force’s Family of Affordable Mass Missiles (FAMM) program, which aims to replenish depleted stockpiles amid ongoing conflicts. Leidos facilities in Huntsville, Ala., are designed to produce up to 15,000 units annually once full-rate production begins.
Col. Robert Johnston stated that the command’s goal is to mount the weapon on every feasible special operations and conventional platform using multiple launch modes. Training for crews will proceed alongside production ramp-up efforts. Leidos is also developing non-kinetic and palletized variants of the system. Operational tempo constraints currently limit testing opportunities, requiring piecemeal asset employment, according to Josh Cantera. The unit cost in low-rate initial production is approximately $600,000.
Key facts
- Contract value: $27.2 million awarded to Leidos on July 8
- Missile weight class: 200 pounds
- Range: Over 400 nautical miles (460 miles)
- Unit cost: Roughly $600,000 in low-rate initial production
- Production capacity: Up to 15,000 units per year at Huntsville, Ala.
- Delivery timeline: Around next fall for current order
- Program affiliation: Family of Affordable Mass Missiles (FAMM)
- Combat use: Two missiles launched from AC-130J in AFRICOM area
Source: Special Operations Command contract announcement and company release