Article Posted on : - Feb 02, 2010

The Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile fitted in an aircraft. A Lockheed Martin Photo

ORLANDO (BNS): Lockheed Martin has successfully tested the long range Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) it is developing for the US Navy and Air Force.

The missile was test-launched from a B-52 strategic aircraft at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico on January 12, Lockheed said.

The primary test objectives of this flight were to provide final validation of a new missile control unit, recently upgraded actuator control electronics and a digital engine controller. The upgrades enhance missile performance and eliminate the risk of future component obsolescence, the company said.

The JASSM is an autonomous, long-range, conventional, air-to-ground, precision standoff cruise missile. It is designed to destroy high-value, well-defended, fixed and relocatable targets. The weapon uses a state-of-the-art infrared seeker and the anti-jam GPS to focus on its target.

The 975-kg missile flies at subsonic speed and carries 450 kg penetrator/blast fragmentation warhead.

The missile has been test launched from the B-1, B-2, B-52 and F-16 aircraft. Its future platforms include the F-15E, F/A-18 and F-35 fighter aircraft.

The US Air Force intends to induct 4,900 JASSMs and its longer range JASSM-ER.