New Navy missile ready for operational testing

PATUXENT RIVER, Md., Jan. 13 (UPI) -- The final developmental free flight test of Raytheon's Joint Standoff Weapon C-1 has been conducted in California by the U.S. Navy.

The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command said the test involved the missile being launched from an F/A-18 at a moving maritime target. The missile destroyed the target, it said, and met all primary test objectives.

The AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon is medium-range precision-guided missile system and is in use with the Navy to destroy land targets. The new C-1 variant incorporates a two-way strike common weapon datalink to enable the striking of a moving maritime target.

The missile system features an imaging infrared seeker and an autonomous target capability.

The Navy said the JSOW C-1 will now enter operational testing before delivery to the fleet in 2016.

"When operational, JSOW C-1 will provide joint force commanders with an affordable, air-delivered, standoff weapon effective against both moving maritime targets and fixed land targets," the Navy said.