US Air Force cancels Extended Range Weapon development programme


The U.S. Air Force, according to various media, may have cancelled its Extended Range Weapon development programme. This programme, a new start effort in the Fiscal Year 19 budget, was a joint venture between the Air Force and the Missile Defense Agency, aimed at developing a new interceptor to take out enemy missile threats.


US Air Force cancels Extended Range Weapon development programme (Picture Source: U.S. Army)


The programme's acquisition strategy was approved in March 2019 and was valued at $US 632 million, but things fell apart by May 2019 when the government and contractor could not agree to contract terms.

The FY19 budget provided $US 40 million for risk reduction efforts, and the service sought an additional $US 246 million for work on the program in FY20. A prototype was expected to be built by the end of FY22.