U.S. developing anti-ship JSOW smart bomb

TUCSON, May 24 (UPI) -- The United States is upgrading its naval combat capabilities by adapting the JSOW smart bomb for use against moving ships.

Raytheon said in a statement Thursday it received a $94 million contract from the Navy to develop an anti-ship variant of the JSOW (Joint Standoff Weapon) that will run on algorithms designed to seek out moving targets.

"The results of detailed trade studies performed by a Navy-Raytheon team enabled us to develop an initial architecture and initial mission effectiveness assessments for this new JSOW variant," said Raytheon's John O'Brien. "The studies were critical to the new seeker design, seeker software algorithm development and data link selection."

If all goes as planned, the Navy could be getting a weapon that will add to the versatility of carrier battle groups and fit in with the U.S. strategy for operations in "littoral" coastal areas where hit-and-run attacks by small boats could pose a threat to amphibious ships.

Raytheon said in Tucson it would base the new weapon on its AGM-154C1, formerly known as the JSOW Block III, and plan to have it ready for production in 2009.

The plan specifically calls for addition of a weapons data link that will receive targeting information from carrier-based F/A-18 E and F planes. Raytheon has already awarded the subcontract for the component, which is nicknamed Strike Link, to Rockwell Collins. Strike Link will also be available for other ordnance such as the Harpoon anti-ship missile.

The stealthy bomb will also keep its anti-radar cross section and low infrared signature. Its range will be consistent with the JSOW standard of about 80 miles.