JASSM integration for Finnish aircraft

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ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Initial integration Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles onto Finnish air force F-18C/D aircraft will be performed by Lockheed Martin under an FMS contract.

Lockheed said the Foreign Military Sales award it received from the U.S. Air Force is worth $5.1 million and involves software development and integration support.

"JASSM plays a critical role in giving allied warfighters the operational flexibility, reliability and effectiveness necessary to complete their missions," said Alan Jackson, director of strike systems in Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control business. "The team has worked hard to be able to deliver this vital and affordable capability to our allied partners."

JASSM is an autonomous, air-to-ground, precision-guided missile armed with a penetrator and blast fragmentation warhead.

Finland is the second non-U.S. military to integrate the weapon onto its aircraft -- Australia was the first -- and the work will coincide with Finland's Mid-Life Two upgrade of F-18s.

Lockheed, which expects additional contracts in relation to the integration program, said its work will take place at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in China Lake, Calif.

"JASSM on the F-18C/D enables Finland to fulfill its regional defense role, as well as its European community and North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Partnership for Peace responsibilities," the company said.