CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland@brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys@brattland.org 619 454-0496 ’38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org From: Harold Brattland <habrattland@arvig.net> Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2026 3:23 PM To: Brattland, Mike * <mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> Subject: Aviation Week "" U.S. Navy Reveals Concept For Short-Range Aerial Kills Check out this site https://aviationweek.com/defense/missile-defense-weapons/us-navy-reveals-con... -- U.S. Navy Reveals Concept For Short-Range Aerial Kills Steve Trimble <https://aviationweek.com/author/steve-trimble> August 25, 2026 <https://aviationweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/2026-08/caam.jpg.png?itok=nnAGchEh> Credit: U.S. Navy U.S. Navy officials have confirmed they are assessing requirements for a Compact Air-to-Air Missile (CAAM) for extremely short-range, air-to-air intercepts. The CAAM profile appeared for the first time on a slide presented by a senior Navy official on Aug. 22 at the Tailhook Association Symposium in Reno, Nevada. The image revealed a guided missile with a possibly infrared seeker and control fins. “Compact Air-to-Air Missile (CAAM) is a future inner boundary weapon. Requirements are being evaluated and assessed by the Navy at this time. We have no further updates at this time,” a Navy spokesperson said. In air-to-air engagements, the inner boundary describes the minimum distance for completing the fusing and arming sequence of a missile before it hits a target. The inner boundary typically poses a critical danger for a fighter armed only with missiles. A target that enters that space is too close to be destroyed by the RTX AIM-9 Sidewinder. Since U.S. Navy fighters lack an internal gun, the proposed CAAM would become their only option for shooting it down. The CAAM also could help with a Navy fighter’s stealth signature. The F-35C, for example, only carries imaging infrared guided-AIM-9X missiles on the outer wings. But the CAAM could be compact enough to store inside the aircraft’s weapons bays. Such a loadout would require the CAAM to be capable of locking on to a target after launch. The program has been in development for at least several months by the Navy. An industry day agenda for the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division last February included technology for a “compact air-to-air missile.” The specific technology involved highly loaded grain energetics for solid rocket motor energetics. Anduril previously tested highly loaded grain technology in 2025 for air-to-air missiles in partnership with the Advanced Technology team of RTX, the Navy and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The latter also pursued a “compact air-to-air missile program” from at least 2023 to 2025. The AFRL awarded a $5.1 million contract to RTX on Jan. 10, 2023, for CAAM and Extended-Range CAAM (ERAAM) technology development, according to government spending records posted on USASpending.gov. Brian Everstine contributed to this article from Washington. <https://aviationweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/author_thumbnail/public/authors/Trimble_Steve_sized_0.jpg?itok=e31Tv8Ow> Steve Trimble <https://aviationweek.com/author/steve-trimble> Email: steve.trimble@aviationweek.com <mailto:steve.trimble@aviationweek.com> Steve covers military aviation, missiles and space for the Aviation Week Network, based in Washington, DC. Comments 1 Comment EngineeringRaconteur Thu, 08/27/2026 - 17:43 Not to be too pedantic, but “Since U.S. Navy fighters lack an internal gun”, all versions of the F/A-18 have an internal gun