ORLANDO, Fla., July 28 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin's Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile recently completed a successful Product Verification Test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
Released by a B-52 at an altitude of 25,000 feet and at a speed of Mach 0.76, the JASSM navigated through a preplanned route before destroying its intended target.
Officials said the test met all mission objectives.
The test validated software upgrades for 158 Lot 8 JASSM missiles, which will be delivered to the military starting in third quarter of this year.
"Flight validation of JASSM's software enhancements continues our efforts to expand missile capability and demonstrate reliability," said Alan Jackson, JASSM program director in Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control business. "Additionally, we are constantly striving to make JASSM more affordable for our customers."
The JASSM PVT success follows the Lot 9 contract award for 170 baseline and 30 Extended Range missiles, ongoing F-15E integration test flights, and the January 2011 JASSM-ER Milestone C low rate initial production decision.
JASSM is a critical weapon for the U.S. Air Force. The program has more than 1,400 missiles on contract, with more than 1,080 delivered.
Also produced for foreign military sale, baseline JASSM is integrated on multiple aircraft including the B-1, B-2, B-52, F-16 and F-18 aircraft. F-15E integration is proceeding as planned with the F-35 designated as a future platform.
