Lockheed Martin announced Monday it has successfully tested its extended-range JASSM system at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. JASSM is an air-to-surface standoff missile system and the world's first stealthy conventional cruise missile.
Launched from a U.S. Air Force B-1B flying at Mach 0.80 at an altitude of 20,000 feet, the JASSM-ER separated from the bomber, deployed its wings and tail and started its engine, LM said in a statement.
The missile then climbed to its designated cruise altitude, navigated via predetermined waypoints and descended to a second selected altitude above ground level toward its test target. The missile also performed a terminal maneuver that enabled it demonstrate proper impact angle and accuracy.
JASSM-ER current is in Phase II development, encompassing design and verification testing and flight testing. The recent test was the first flight to verify LM's modifications specific to the extended-range configuration.
LM said the flight will be followed by a series of integrated Air Force and company development and evaluation tests to prove the JASSM-ER configuration on the B-1B platform.
JASSM-ER is a 2,000 pound-class weapon with a dual-mode penetrator and blast fragmentation warhead. It can cruise autonomously in bad weather and day or night using an infrared seeker and an enhanced digital anti-jam Global Positioning System receiver to find a specific aimpoint on the target. Its stealthy airframe makes it extremely difficult for air defense systems to engage.
"JASSM-ER will have a range greater than 500 nautical miles," said Mike Inderhees, JASSM program director at LM's Missiles and Fire Control. "This development provided the Air Force and the war fighter with a JASSM-ER upgrade at the lowest risk and cost."
