TROY, Ala., April 13 (UPI) -- The 1,000th joint air-to-surface standoff missile was delivered to the U.S. Air Force during a ceremony at an Alabama plant, Lockheed Martin announced.
Alan Jackson, the program director for the joint air-to-surface standoff missile team at Lockheed, said the milestone achievement comes seven years after the first delivery.
"Working with our customers, we've overcome challenges, accommodated new requirements and are delivering a precision weapon that provides unparalleled capabilities to U.S. and allied warfighters," he added.
The missile was included in the seventh production lot at a fire-control facility for Lockheed Martin in Troy, Ala.
The company characterized the JASSM as a "critical" tool for the defense arsenal of the U.S. Air Force.
The 2,000-pound penetrator/blast fragmentation missile can be integrated on the B-1, B-2, and B-52 bombers as well as the F-16 jet fighter. Future integration is planned for the F-15E, F/A-18 and F-35 fighters, the defense company said.
U.S. Air Force officials joined Australian defense representatives at the ceremony in Alabama.
