U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command has validated the AGM-190A Havoc Spear small cruise missile after a spring 2026 combat evaluation, opening the way for broader use across special operations and conventional aircraft. The Leidos-built weapon was live-fired from an AC-130J gunship in U.S. Africa Command’s area of responsibility and met AFSOC’s requirements for accuracy and operational readiness.
The result gives the command a new long-range precision-strike option designed to keep aircraft farther from defended airspace while increasing magazine depth. AFSOC has also signalled an ambition to integrate the missile beyond the AC-130J and onto additional platforms and launch modes, broadening its potential role across the force.
Havoc Spear was unveiled earlier in 2026 as a modular, low-cost cruise missile under AFSOC’s Enhanced Precision Effects effort. Leidos describes the system as a 200-pound-class weapon with a range of more than 400 nautical miles. Reporting on the evaluation indicates two missiles were fired during the combat use, with the first batch of 45 rounds expected to begin delivery around next fall.