Lockheed Martin Explores JASSM Vertical-Launch Potential

Sea Power, Jul 2004 by Burgess, Richard R

As the air-launched AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) enters full-rate production, its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, is studying the potential of it being adapted to the vertical launching systems of Navy warships.

Lockheed Martin is due next month to complete a study requested by the Navy on adapting the JASSM to the Mk41 vertical launching system (VLS), standard on the Navy's Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers and most of its Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers. These ships already are armed with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles and have successfully launched them into combat during several conflicts during the last 14 years.

The JASSM - which has a range of approximately 2UU nautical miles - is not a potential replacement for the Tomahawk, which can strike targets out to 900 nautical miles. However, among the capabilities it provides that the Tomahawk does not is a penetrator warhead.

K.evin Shcehan, the company's director of business development for strike weapons, said JASSM also has enhanced survivability due to its low radar signature and commonality with the air-launched version. The JASSM is the only insensitive-munition cruise missile and requires no waiver for storage on-board ship.

U.S. Navy surface warships have not possessed a capability to destroy hardened targets since the retirement of the last Iowa-class battleships a decade ago. The JASSM would give surface warships a penetration capability resident in only a few types of fixed-wing aircraft. This capability would be welcome for expeditionary strike groups that, without aircraft carriers, now are limited in their striking power.

The air-launched, retargetable JASSM is in full-rate production for the Air Force, and is expected to enter Navy service by 2009 as a weapon on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter. The Navy plans to request funds to procure 28 JASSMs in 2008 and 106 in 2009.

Lockheed Martin is developing an extended-range (ER) version of JASSM to reach out to 500 nautical miles. The ER version would retain the dimensions of the basic version, but weigh 150 pounds more. The basic version is the subject of the current study, said Sheehan, but the Navy "would be able to go the ER if they want."

A ship-launched JASSM would require a booster rocket to lift the JASSM out of the launch tube. Lockheed Martin is evaluating existing booster rockets, including the ones used to launch the Tomahawk and Harpoon cruise missiles.

Navy cruise-missile program officials declined to comment on the JASSM VLS study pending its completion.

By RICHARD R. BURGESS

Managing Editor