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JASSM Extended Range missile contract for Lockheed Martin

July 16, 2003 (by Lieven Dewitte) - Lockheed Martin has recently been awarded a $9.6 million contract award from the U.S. Air Force for Phase 1 of the Preplanned Product Improvement of the baseline Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). JASSM is one of the Department of Defense's most successful testing programs.

An F-16 (#88441) from the Eglin Test force carrying the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile [USAF photo]

All solutions identified in development tests have been incorporated into the missile, and there is no indication of systemic concerns pertaining to operational testing. No retrofits, modifications or changes to fielded missiles were necessary as a result of testing.

The JASSM-ER program will significantly increase missile range to more than 500 nautical miles by incorporating a new engine and increasing the fuel loading. Both of these changes occur without affecting the missile's outer mold line, and these low-risk modifications dramatically reduce development and test costs and time.

JASSM-ER will provide aircrews an even greater standoff capability, which may be critical if the target cannot be overflown.

The ER contract award will be managed in two phases. Phase I focuses on system and subsystem-level trade studies. Design activity includes integrating a turbofan engine into the JASSM airframe, designing a modified fuel system and modifying the fuel tank structure to accommodate additional fuel volume. Phase I concludes in March 2004, and Phase II development concludes in concert with the Lot 6 award and insertion in November 2006.

The Phase I effort includes engine component fabrication and performance tests, procurement activities and Phase II development proposal activities. Phase II go-ahead initiates design verification testing and culminates with flight testing. The flight test plan includes nine development and operational tests.

The JASSM program is currently in Low Rate Initial Production of Lots 1 and 2, which began in late 2001, for the U.S. Air Force. A Milestone III Full Rate Production decision is planned for the latter part of 2003.

The extended range missile will be produced at Lockheed Martin's manufacturing facility in Troy, Alabama, by the personnel who currently manufacture the baseline missile.

JASSM (Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile) is a precision cruise missile designed for launch from outside area defenses to kill hard, medium-hardened, soft, and area type targets. The Air Force/Navy JASSM program was established in the fiscal year 1996 budget, following cancellation of the TSSAM (Tri-Service Stand-off Attack Missile), to develop a replacement for that system at the earliest possible date.

It is a 2,000-pound class weapon with a dual-mode penetrator and blast fragmentation warhead, and it cruises autonomously in adverse weather, day or night, using an infrared seeker in addition to the enhanced digital anti-jam GPS receiver to find a specific aimpoint on the target. Its stealthy airframe makes it extremely difficult for air defense systems to engage. The missile is planned for deployment on B- 1, B-2, B-52, F-16 and F/A-18 aircraft.