Mako: Fast missile

• Lockheed Martin has received several contracts from the SiAW program.
• Lockheed Martin officials have presented the hypersonic system to the public for the first time.
• Lockheed Martin has expressed interest in exporting the Mako to other nations.

Named after the fastest shark in the seas, Mako is designed to swiftly engage time-sensitive targets, displaying remarkable manoeuvrability in a high-altitude hypersonic regime while penetrating advanced air-defence systems. This allows it to effectively engage high-value targets at incredibly fast speeds tailored to the specific requirements of each mission.

As a versatile, multi-mission hypersonic missile, Mako can support a wide range of operations, including strike, maritime strike, and counter-air defence missions. Its deployment from 5th-gen fighters enables it to conduct stand-in strike operations, providing significant reach and allowing for launches at operationally significant ranges while keeping aircraft at safe standoff distances.

Design

The innovative Mako missile from Lockheed Martin represents a significant advancement in digital engineering. It has been meticulously designed using state-of-the-art model-based systems engineering practices and an integrated, model-based enterprise to seamlessly support the entire life cycle of the weapon. The digital and open architecture design of the Mako missile allows for the swift integration of mission-specific components such as warheads and seekers. This unique feature empowers users to upgrade the Mako missile without any proprietary entanglements, thus ensuring that it can effectively keep pace with evolving threats. Furthermore, the Mako missile has been digitally developed with a specific focus on producibility, with manufacturing engineers involved from the project's inception to ensure a seamless transition into the production phase.

While Lockheed Martin decided not to proceed to phase 2 of the U.S. Air Force’s Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) program, the Mako missile stands to benefit from the significant innovations and maturation efforts invested in it. It has become the Air Force’s first fully digital acquisition missile, marking a significant milestone in modern missile development and acquisition.

To mitigate risk and minimise cost, the Mako missile incorporates components from fielded systems and proven supply chains. Additionally, all subsystems have been customer-validated as mature, operating at a technical readiness level of 6 or higher. The Mako missile, weighing 1,300 pounds, effectively packs its multi-mission capability into an airframe that is 13 inches in diameter and 13 feet long. It has undergone successful fit checks on a wide variety of aircraft, including the F-35, F/A-18, F-16, F-15, P-8, F-22, and F-35C, and is compatible with any aircraft featuring 30-inch lugs, including bombers.

Developed by Lockheed Martin and CoAspire, the Mako Multi-Mission Hypersonic Missile is a stand-off hypersonic weapon specifically designed to fit in the internal weapons bay of the F-35A/C and F-22A. It is notably the first hypersonic weapon that is compatible with a fifth-generation fighter. Unveiled at the Navy League’s Sea Air Space exposition in April 2024, the Mako missile has been presented to both the U.S. Navy and Air Force, with potential deployment considerations for submarines and surface warships.

Development

The development work on the Mako missile commenced in 2017 as part of the Air Force’s Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) program. The Mako represents a strategic shift towards more cost-effective yet potent hypersonic strike weapons and was initially planned for the SiAW program. As opposed to larger hypersonic cruise missiles, the Mako provides a measure of standoff range and rapid response capabilities, rendering it suitable for a diverse set of military operations requiring a shorter range than the Hypersonic Air Launched Offensive Anti-Surface (HALO) missile, which is optimised for anti-ship missions, or the significantly larger AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW).

The Mako missile measures 13 feet in length, 13 inches in diameter, and weighs 1,300 pounds, including a 130-pound warhead. Its power source is a solid-fuel rocket motor, enabling it to achieve hypersonic speeds of at least Mach 5; however, specifics regarding its flight profile have not been disclosed. The missile is said to be compatible with any aircraft possessing 30-inch lugs, utilising the common BRU-32 heavy-duty ejector rack, as indicated by Rick Loy, Senior Program Manager for the Missile and Fire Control division at Lockheed Martin. Additionally, it can undergo sub-surface launches from a submarine's vertical launch system.

Lockheed Martin has explored the missile's compatibility with various aircraft types through electronic and physical fit-checking. These include the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, F-16, and F-15, as well as all three versions of the F-35 Lightning II, among others. Notably, the F-35A/C and F-22 can house the missile within internal weapons bays, while other aircraft, such as the F-35B, would need to carry it on external pylons. An F-35A or C could potentially carry six Makos between internal and external bays, as noted by Lockheed Martin. Moreover, fit-checking has been performed on the P-8A Poseidon, renowned for maritime patrol and surveillance, indicating the potential adaptability of the Mako for offensive missions.

The missile is equipped with multiple guidance systems and is anticipated to engage a wide array of targets, including maritime targets, with Lockheed Martin confirming its ability to engage the same targets as the SiAW and potentially maritime targets. The Mako utilises a conventional solid-fuelled rocket motor as a cost-saving measure, forgoing more exotic hypersonic propulsion systems. This decision is envisaged to reduce costs, particularly crucial in potential confrontations with major powers such as China and Russia, where its hypersonic speed holds significance for stand-off engagements of time-sensitive targets such as mobile air defences and ballistic missile systems.

Lockheed Martin has expressed interest in exporting the Mako to other nations seeking to acquire hypersonic capability. Furthermore, at the Farnborough International Airshow in England on 25 July 2024, Lockheed Martin proposed launching its initial Mako production facility in the UK to manufacture missiles for the RAF's Eurofighter Typhoons.

Conclusion

Lockheed Martin officials have presented the hypersonic system to the public for the first time since its commencement of development over seven years ago. Loy clarified that despite its design, the Mako system was not intended for the U.S. Navy’s Hypersonic Air Launched Offensive (HALO) Anti-Surface program, which seeks to impart high-end anti-ship capability to the service’s Super Hornets. Originally, the Mako was proposed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Air Force’s Stand In Attack Weapon (SiAW) program, which aimed to enable aircraft to strike against adversary assets constituting an anti-access/area denial network. Budgetary documents outline targets, including missile and air-defence systems, the latter of which Loy specified during his explanation of Mako’s multi-mission targeting.

Lockheed Martin has received several contracts from the SiAW program, including an $18 million contract in February. However, Northrop Grumman secured the program with a $705 million contract last year. Northrop Grumman's submission is reportedly based on their work with the Navy's Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER) program. SiAW is anticipated to have a reach of at least 300-350 kilometres based on this foundation.