Lockheed Martin's JASSM, a stealthy,
air-to-surface missile, recently conducted two successful flight
tests at the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), NM.
The first launch, on January 25, was from a B-1 aircraft and the
second, on January 27, was from an F-16. Both missiles hit their
mark. The two successes are on the heels of a successful 2005
flight test program where the missile scored nine successes in 11
tests. The tests bring JASSM's overall record to 33 successes in 43
flight tests, with 11 of the last 13 flights being successes.
"We are very pleased with the continued flight test successes
that validate the efforts of the Air Force and Lockheed Martin to
improve quality and reliability, as we committed to Congress," said
Randy Bigum, vice president of Strike Weapons at Lockheed Martin
Missiles and Fire Control. "Additionally, we expect the AFOTEC
report to favorably report on JASSM's effectiveness, availability,
reliability and logistics.
"Much of the quality and reliability success we've experienced
is a direct result of the partnership between Lockheed Martin and
its JASSM supplier teams," Bigum explained. "This partnership began
in the engineering manufacturing and development phase, when we
built in stress testing to improve product reliability and
robustness. Our focus now is on continued reliability growth and
quality sustainment."
The recent tests were Product Upgrade Verification (PUV) flights
and introduced features that improve the missile's reliability and
affordability. Another activity in this flight is the introduction
of the electronic safe and arm fuze (ESAF) which as part of a risk
reduction, tested internal communication to the missile.
To further reliability growth efforts, the Air Force conducted
three ground tests at the Eglin Air Force Base, FL, JASSM
functional ground test facility last November and December. The
missiles were environmentally conditioned prior to the tests, and a
simulated flight was performed which exercised all missile
functions except warhead and fuze performance. Following the test,
the missile was returned to the factory and components were
removed, inspected and tested.
"This testing is more cost effective than flight testing, and
provides significant insight into missile performance and
reliability since the missile is not destroyed during the test,
said U.S. Air Force Col. Jim Geurts, JASSM program manager and
Long-Range Missile Systems Group Commander at Eglin AFB, FL.
"Data from these tests and the post-test inspections are used to
enhance JASSM reliability. System discoveries uncovered in testing
can be corrected and inserted into production to ensure the
warfighter has the most reliable system possible."
Additional flight and ground tests are planned throughout 2006.
The flights include additional PUV flights, Weapon System
Evaluation Program flights and JASSM Extended-Range flights.
Additional JASSM and JASSM-ER ground tests are also planned.