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BAE SYSTEMS BROACH warhead successful in U.S. Navy JSOW tests

12 Nov 2002

BAE Systems multi-stage warhead demonstrated its effectiveness during recent testing of the U.S. Navy's Joint Standoff Weapon Unitary variant (JSOW-C). The company's BROACH warhead permitted the weapon to completely perforate a steel-reinforced concrete target during sled testing conducted at the Supersonic Naval Ordnance Research Tracks facility at China Lake, California, Oct. 23.

The sled test follows three successful free flights highlighting the weapon's imaging infrared terminal seeker (IIR) and autonomous targeting acquisition (ATA) technology, demonstrating miss distances of less than 43 inches. The IIR seeker provides precision terminal accuracy of JSOW-C. In February 2002, BAE Systems successfully completed a contractor sled test at the Pendine, Wales test range.

The testing demonstrated the functionality of the lethal package augmenting charge, follow through bomb and fusing system, and validated that the payload system is capable of perforating a specific target. The lethal payload was integrated into a production representative JSOW-C missile. The test was conducted using the last 2,400 feet of the 21,600 feet long sled test track with an impact velocity of 712 feet per second. The augmenting charge detonated on weapon contact with the target utilising the production impact sensor installed on the nose of the missile.

"The JSOW-C developmental test successes to date represent a highly effective and capable weapon system that demonstrates the absolute combat power the Fleet will employ in the near future," said U.S. Navy Conventional Strike Weapons Program Manager, Capt. Robert Wirt.

The test was performed under operational conditions, against a threshold target, and was the first of three tests that will demonstrate the full flexibility of the JSOW-C system. Subsequent tests are planned for increasingly difficult targets and operational conditions, and will demonstrate the flexibility of the BROACH system at low speeds and high impact angles.

Incorporating multi-stage warhead technology, the BROACH system consists of a penetrating shaped-charge in front of a standard conventional follow-through bomb. It provides blast/fragmentation effectiveness, as well as hardened target penetration. JSOW-C is the first U.S. weapon to integrate the BROACH warhead.

In April 2001, BAE Systems RO Defence was awarded an engineering and manufacturing development contract from the Navy to integrate and test BROACH on JSOW-C. The company developed the warhead system during the U.K. Storm Shadow CASOM (Conventionally Armed Stand Off Missile) program, and on the JSOW and CALCM (Conventionally-armed Air Launched Cruise Missile) Foreign Comparative Test programmes. Developmental and operational flight testing of JSOW-C is scheduled for 2003 and a low rate initial production decision is expected in March. Initial deliveries are expected in early 2004.

The Thales Missile Electronics (TME) operational contact switch and two TME Multi Application Fuze Initiation System (MAFIS) fuses initiate the warhead system. Aerojet, Sacramento, California, has been selected to fill the bombs for Team BROACH. Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, integrates BROACH lethal package into the weapon system and is responsible for the development of Imaging Infrared Seeker hardware and Autonomous Targeting Acquisition (ATA) software.

The AGM-154 JSOW family of cost effective, highly survivable and lethal weapons is the new generation glide weapon that ensures warfighter survivability by enabling precision air strike launches from well beyond most enemy air defences. JSOW is modular in design with variants that integrate different lethal submunitions, which in addition to the BROACH for the AGM-154C, include the BLU-97 Combined Effects Munition for the AGM-154A and the BLU-108 Sensor Fused Weapon submunition for the AGM-154B.

JSOW is currently deployed on U.S. Navy F/A-18 aircraft. Integration of JSOW is complete on U.S. Air Force B-2, B-52, and F-15E aircraft and testing continues on F-16 and B-1B aircraft. Since 1999, JSOW has been proven in combat in Operation Southern Watch, NATO Operation Allied Force and Operation Enduring Freedom, with more than 100 weapons employed.

About BAE SYSTEMS:

BAE Systems is a systems company, innovating for a safer world. BAE Systems employs nearly 100,000 people including Joint Ventures, and has annual sales of around 13 billion. The company offers a global capability in air, sea, land and space with a world-class prime contracting ability supported by a range of key skills. BAE Systems designs, manufactures and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, space systems, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, guided weapon systems and a range of other defence products. BAE Systems is dedicated to making the intelligent connections needed to deliver innovative solutions.