Lockheed Martinís Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile recently completed Reliability Assessment Program Lot 6 testing with two final flights.The tests met success criteria and demonstrated the effectiveness of hardware enhancements to Lot 6 missiles.
In the first test, a B-52 at the Utah Test and Training Range released a JASSM from 35,000 feet traveling at Mach 0.71. In the second test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., a B-1B released JASSM from 25,000 feet traveling at Mach 0.85. Both 2,000-pound cruise missiles navigated through preplanned routes before destroying their intended fixed targets.
These flight tests validate our ongoing efforts to enhance JASSMís capability, dependability and affordability, said Dave Melvin, long range strike systems senior program manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. ìThe JASSMs used in these tests are identical to the missiles that would be used on the battlefield, with the exception of some additional instrumentation to measure performance.
The successful RAP tests follow several JASSM program milestones, including contract awards for U.S. Air Force Lot 10 missiles, integration into the Finnish F/A-18 fleet and integration into the U.S. Air Force F-15E fleet.
JASSM is an autonomous, air-to-ground, precision-guided standoff missile designed to meet the needs of U.S. and allied warfighters. Armed with a penetrator and blast-fragmentation warhead, JASSM cruises autonomously, day or night, in all weather conditions. The missile employs an infrared seeker and enhanced digital anti-jam Global Positioning System to find specific points on targets.
JASSM is integrated on the U.S. Air Forceís B-1, B-2, B-52, F-16 and F-15E. Internationally, JASSM is integrated on the F/A-18A/B for the Royal Australian Air Force. Future integration efforts will focus on the U.S. and international versions of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft and other international platforms.
Produced at the companyís manufacturing facility in Troy, Ala., Lockheed Martin has assembled more than 1,200 JASSMs for testing and operational use toward a total objective of 4,900 JASSM missiles.
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is a 2012 recipient of the U.S. Department of Commerceís Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for performance excellence. The Malcolm Baldrige Award represents one of the highest honors that can be awarded to American companies for achievement in leadership, strategic planning, customer relations, measurement, analysis, workforce excellence, operations and business results.
