JSOW-ER engine passes second test firing

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. company Raytheon said last week it tested its JSOW-ER engine successfully for the second time.

"The Joint Standoff Weapon Extended Range missile moved one step closer to powered flight testing when Raytheon Company successfully conducted a second ground test of the JSOW-ER engine at the facility of Hamilton Sundstrand, a United Technologies Corp. company, late last year," the company said in a statement Feb. 5.

"The Raytheon- and Hamilton Sundstrand-funded test evaluated a flush inlet, engine and exhaust design. This test keeps the JSOW-ER on track for further functional ground tests, a captive carry flight test in 2008, and a free- flight demonstration in 2009," the company said.

"JSOW-ER, which comprises a portion of Raytheon's response to the Air Force's request for information for alternative solutions to the Joint Air-to- Surface Standoff Missile, is a proposed variant of the combat-proven JSOW, with a price goal of $350,000 per unit," Raytheon said.

"JSOW-ER provides the war fighter an affordable extended-range missile that is essentially a spiral of Raytheon's combat-proven glide JSOW," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems Strike product line. "It can be easily integrated onto any aircraft that can carry JSOW and will give the war fighter a 300-nautical mile missile with the same netted weapon capability and maritime interdiction capability currently in development for the JSOW C-1."

"JSOW-ER's affordability and longer range can, in large part, be attributed to the weapon's 150-pound thrust class Hamilton Sundstrand engine. The engine, which is the same one used in Raytheon's Miniature Air Launched Decoy, will help keep the JSOW-ER affordable while reducing the MALD's cost per unit, thanks to economies of scale. JSOW-ER will also incorporate the same cost initiatives that reduced the unit cost of JSOW Block II by more than 25 percent," Raytheon said.

"With 2006 revenues of $5 billion, Hamilton Sundstrand, a division of United Technologies Corporation, employs approximately 18,000 people worldwide and is headquartered in Windsor Locks, Conn.," Raytheon said.