Article Posted on : - Mar 09, 2017

A Lockheed Martin JASSM missile closes in on a target during a test. Lockheed photo

ORLANDO (BNS): The Lockheed Martin-built Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) has completed two product verification flight tests at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

Focused on demonstrating the updated Global Positioning System (GPS) anti-jam hardware and software, flight testing of the weapon verified effective operation in both GPS-degraded and non-jammed environments.

The B-2 and B-52 bomber aircraft of the US Air Force launched the JASSM missiles at altitudes greater than 24,000 feet.

The missiles navigated to and destroyed their intended targets, completing all mission objectives, Lockheed Martin announced on March 8.

"With these JASSM product updates, we continue to provide a wide range of affordable options that ensure a tactical advantage for U.S. and allied warfighters," said Jason Denney, programme director of Long-Range Strike Systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

Armed with a penetrating blast-fragmentation warhead, JASSM and JASSM-Extended Range (ER) can be used in all weather conditions. They share the same powerful capabilities and stealth characteristics, though JASSM-ER has more than two-and-a-half times the range of JASSM for greater standoff distance.

In addition to the enhanced digital anti-jam GPS receiver, the cruise missiles also employ an infrared seeker to dial into specific points on targets.

Effective against high-value, well-fortified, fixed and relocatable targets, JASSM is integrated on the US Air Force's B-1B, B-2, B-52, F-16 and F-15E. The B-1B also carries the JASSM-ER.

Internationally, JASSM is carried on the F/A-18A/B and the F-18C/D aircraft. Produced at the company's manufacturing facility in Troy, Alabama, more than 2,000 JASSMs have been delivered so far.

Lockheed Martin delivered the 2,000th JASSM to the US Air Force in August 2016.