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Lockheed to convert air-to-surface missiles for Air Force

By James LaPorta
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph Herdliska, 131st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew member, prepares to load an AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile onto the B-2 Spirit weapons load trainer during a weapons load competition at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., on Jan. 23, 2015. Photo by Airman 1st Class Joel Pfiester/U.S. Air Force
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph Herdliska, 131st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew member, prepares to load an AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile onto the B-2 Spirit weapons load trainer during a weapons load competition at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., on Jan. 23, 2015. Photo by Airman 1st Class Joel Pfiester/U.S. Air Force

June 6 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract worth more than $9.2 million by the Defense Department for software conversion on air-to-surface missiles.

The contract, from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and announced on Tuesday, enables Lockheed Martin to provide phase II of the software conversion program for the joint air-to-surface standoff missile, or JASSM, missile system, according to the Pentagon.

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Specifically, the contract will provide for continued conversion of the operational flight program on the AGM-158 JASSM ER, or extended range, from the Ada computer language to C++.

Lockheed will provide a preliminary design review that includes support, source data and analysis for the system's operational flight program and integrated flight simulation software design.

The weapon is a long-range air-launched cruise missile that's equipped with a airframe that provides for stealthy maneuvering from enemy radar systems.

It uses an infrared seeker and GPS guidance to autonomously strike fixed targets at long ranges with a 1,000-pound penetrating blast warhead.

The standard model can be mounted on most Air Force and Navy fighters, including, bomber aircraft, while the JASSM-ER is currently deployed on the B1B Lancer heavy supersonic bomber. The ER version is being adapted for use with other aircraft.

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Work on the contract will occur in Orlando, Fla., and is expected to be complete in August 2019.

More than $4 million will be obligated to Lockheed at the time of award from fiscal 2018 research and development funds, the Pentagon said.

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