The Multi-mission Affordable Capacity Effector (MACE) is a planned U.S. Navy air-launched anti-ship cruise missile intended to focus on cost-effectiveness, extended range and increased lethality. It has been described as essentially a "miniature cruise missile."[2] It is designed as an air-launched weapon with adequate stand-off ranges to enable lethality while minimizing significant survivability risks to manned platforms. It will be launched from the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, F-35A and F-35C, and its intended range and usage will complement the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) currently fielded on the U.S. Navy's F/A-18 and the U.S. Air Force's B-1B platforms.[3] The design requirements state that four All-up Rounds (AURs) should be able to be carried internally on the F-35, in addition to external (pylon) carriage.[1] The Navy is interested in producing at least 500 missiles per year and would begin fielding an early version in FY2027.[3][4] The cost per AUR is required to be no greater than $300,000.[1] Production is also required to utilize digital engineering, WOSA compliance and design for export capability "that results in a modular weapon system capable of integrating alternative seekers, payloads and other subcomponents for different weapons variants as well as affordable upgrades to outpace adversaries without disrupting production throughput."[1] Defense analysts have noted that the MACE request bears similarities to the Air Force's request for the Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM).[2]
| Multi-mission Affordable Capacity Effector | |
|---|---|
| Type | Anti-ship missile |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | In development |
| Used by | United States Navy |
| Specifications | |
| Warhead | 75 pounds (34 kg)[1] |
Launch platform | |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d ""Request for Information (RFI) Multi-Mission Affordable Capacity Effector (MACE) Weapon System"".
- ^ a b Trevithick, Joseph. "Mini Anti-Ship Cruise Missile That Fits Inside An F-35 Is On The Navy's Wish List".
- ^ a b Katz, Justin. ""Navy seeking to rapidly prototype new air-launched, stand-off missile"".
- ^ Honrada, Gabriel. ""US MACE missile aims at China's superior naval numbers"".