New weapon nears operational test capability

Flight Journal, Aug 2003 by Pace, Steve

The Lockheed Martin AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) is close to being operational, and deliveries are scheduled for September 2003. After being launched from one of its many planned launching platforms, this weapons system will be fully autonomous. A 2,000-pound weapon with dual-mode penetration and a blast-fragmentation warhead, it will cruise in any weather. It will use a state-of-the-art infrared seeker and an anti-jam global-positioning-system receiver (GPS) that will be optimized to find its target. It features a stealthy airframe, and its range will exceed 200 miles.

The JASSM's 42 tests have proved that it can be used for first-day, first-strike operations in support of pilots under extreme conditions. From the first jettison flight from the F-16C fighter to the test of a Block 1A missile launched from the B-52H bomber platform on March 26, 2003, the JASSM demonstrated that it meets all objectives and has now successfully transitioned to operational testing.