ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin's Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile -- Extended Range recently flew two successful test flights in New Mexico.
In the tests at White Sands Missile Range, two live 2,000-pound class missiles were released from B-1B bombers. They were effectively navigated and destroyed the intended targets.
Lockheed said the first missile was released at an altitude of 13,000 feet and at a speed of 0.72 Mach. The second was released at 30,000 feet at a speed of 0.88 Mach.
The tests were to demonstrate end-to-end system performance while exercising the missile's alternate terminal engagement profile and Time-on-Target mode: the ability to control time of flight to engage time critical targets. During the TOT first-time event for JASSM-ER, the missile adjusted its cruising speed throughout the flight profile based on winds and other atmospheric data.
"JASSM-ER delivered outstanding performance through developmental flight testing as evidenced by 10 of 11 successful flights," said Alan Jackson, JASSM program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "As the program transitions to production, we'll take the next step toward providing this critical long-range strike capability to the warfighter."
The Milestone C, low-rate initial production decision on the missile is scheduled for Dec. 2, with contract award for 30 tactical JASSM-ER missiles expected in January.
JASSM-ER is an autonomous, air-to-ground, precision-guided standoff missile. It shares the same powerful capabilities and stealthy characteristics of the baseline JASSM but with more than 2 1/2 times the range.
