The Multi-mission Affordable Capacity Effector (MACE) is a planned U.S. Navy air-launched anti-ship cruise missile intended to focus on cost-effectiveness, extended range and increased lethality.
"[2] It is designed as an air-launched weapon with adequate stand-off ranges to enable lethality while minimizing significant survivability risks to manned platforms.
[3] The design requirements state that four All-up Rounds (AURs) should be able to be carried internally on the F-35, in addition to external (pylon) carriage.
[1] The Navy is interested in producing at least 500 missiles per year and would begin fielding an early version in FY2027.
[1] Production is also required to utilize digital engineering, WOSA compliance and design for export capability "that results in a modular weapon system capable of integrating alternative seekers, payloads and other subcomponents for different weapons variants as well as affordable upgrades to outpace adversaries without disrupting production throughput.