Lockheed Martin's JASSM Completes Fourth Development Flight Test
ORLANDO, FL, August 1st, 2001 -- Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control's Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) completed their fourth development flight test (DT-4) at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico on Friday. In DT-4, the missile was launched from a U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber at an altitude of 24,000 feet mean sea level above the New Mexico desert at Mach 0.85. After weapon release, the vehicle separated cleanly, navigated, and guided to the planned target. The missile flew for 18 minutes, navigated through 8 waypoints and traveled approximately 158 miles. The missile used the seeker imagery to successfully guide to the desired aim point against a relocatable target. The warhead did not detonate because the fuse safed itself when communications were interrupted.
"The missile cleanly transitioned to flight from the B-52, it robustly navigated through thunderclouds and turbulence, and the impact was right on target. We are now analyzing the flight data to determine the cause of the communications anomaly," stated Mike Inderhees, Lockheed Martin JASSM Program Manager. The fuse is being recovered to determine exactly why communication was incomplete. "We believe we can confirm our initial findings upon recovery of the fuse and do not expect any impact to the production schedule. We are confident that any changes will be made before our next flight test," Inderhees added.
"A key to our success has been our ability to correct these types of discoveries and demonstrate them in subsequent flights," said Colonel Tim Moore, JASSM Program Manager, Joint Program Office. Prior to Friday's flight, JASSM had successfully completed 25 flights: 6 powered, 6 unpowered and 13 jettisons. DT-4 was designed to further demonstrate JASSM compatibility with the B-52 and system performance.
One of the Department of Defense's highest priority programs, JASSM is designed to give Air Force and Navy pilots long-range standoff capability against a wide array of high value, heavily defended targets. Its anti-jam GPS satellite navigation system, state-of-the-art infrared seeker, 1,000-pound penetrator warhead and stealth airframe makes it extremely difficult to defend against.
With JASSM, pilots will be able to launch the missile from well outside the range of enemy air defenses, and it will cruise autonomously in weather, day or night, with pinpoint accuracy defeat the target. The 2,250 pound 14-ft. long missile is designed to be launched from the B-2, B-52H, B-1B, F-16C/D and F/A-18 E/F aircraft.
Located in Orlando, Fla., and Dallas, Tex., Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, a world leader in electro-optics, smart munitions, advanced combat, missile, rocket and space systems, is an operating element of Lockheed Martin Systems Integration business unit based in Bethesda, Md. Missiles and Fire Control is supported by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company - Palmdale, located in Calif. Lockheed Martin Corp.
Nettie Johnson, 407-356-5351
e-mail nettie.r.johnson@lmco.com
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