ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin reports it has successfully demonstrated the dual-mode guidance section of its Joint Air-to-Ground Missile at Eglin Air Force Base.
In the self-funded test, JAGM's rail-mounted guidance section flew nearly four miles, engaged its precision-strike semi-active laser and hit its moving target.
The company said the test was an important risk reduction milestone critical to Lockheed Martin's performance on the U.S. Army's 27-month Continued Technology Development program.
"This flight test demonstrates the maturity of Lockheed Martin's JAGM solution, and our readiness to enter production upon completion of the Army's CTD program," said Frank St. John, vice president of tactical missiles and combat maneuver systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.
"We will continue risk reduction activities to ensure that our JAGM system is affordable and provides significant performance advantages to meet warfighter needs."
The dual-mode seeker features the precision-strike, semi-active laser of the Hellfire missile and all-weather fire-and-forget Longbow millimeter wave radar sensors. Lockheed said the guidance system will be manufactured on the existing Hellfire production line.
Platforms for JAGM include the U.S. Army's AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aerial system. Lockheed Martin's JAGM is also compatible with other Hellfire missile platforms.
