Small Advanced Capabilities Missile

The Small Advanced Capabilities Missile (SACM), occasionally referred to as the CUDA (expansion unknown) or Cuda™,^[1][2] is a United States Air Force (USAF) concept for a "next-generation," medium-range, relatively compact air-to-air missile. Unlike most air-to-air missiles, the CUDA uses "hit-to-kill" technology instead of an explosive warhead, allowing it to save weight by removing the relatively heavy explosive warhead. Designed to include a reduced size while maintaining the range of the AIM-120 AMRAAM, the CUDA seeks to replace the AIM-120's role, while allowing for more to be carried in the weapons bay of modern 5th generation fighter weapons bay, such as in the F-35 and F-22. CUDA also reportedly uses a unique system of propulsive bursts around its airframe, allowing for supposed increased maneuverability, which could increase the probability of killing the target.^[3]

The CUDA was displayed in a photo in the November 2012 issue of the U.S. Air Force Magazine, with the caption 'A Lockheed Martin model shows how its "’Cuda" concept for a small AMRAAM-class radar guided dogfight missile could triple the air-to-air internal loadout on an F-35. The missile is about the size of a Small Diameter Bomb and fits on an SDB-style rack',^[4] and was officially revealed in January and February 2017, during a presentation and an interview by FlightGlobal with General Herbert Carlisle of the USAF.^{[citation needed]}

The missile is under development by Lockheed Martin, and began evaluation by the Air Force Research Laboratory in 2019.^[5]

The missile has occasionally been referred to as the "AIM-160,"^[6] but this is unlikely to be official, as the numeric designation of "160" is already utilized for the ADM-160 MALD air-launched decoy missile. The USAF has not verified any form of letter or number designation beyond the "SACM" moniker.

See also

• AIM-260 JATM
• Long-Range Engagement Weapon
• Peregrine air-to-air missile^[7]

Missiles of similar role, configuration, and era

• Astra Mark-3 – (India)
• Joint New Air-to-Air Missile – (France, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden)
• PL-21 – (China)