Raytheon's Joint Standoff Weapon Block II's First Captive Flight a Success

MISSILE NEWS

JSOW Block II, currently under development for the US Navy, will complete testing by early 2006 with initial deliveries expected by 2007. The improved weapon will offer lower cost and be more adaptable for future modifications. It will maintain all of the standoff and survivability of the current JSOW (shown) and include an improved anti-jam Global Positioning System receiver. The new version will use a unitary 500 pound BLU 111 unitary warheads designed as insensitive munitions. Further JSOW improvements include an anti-ship version, addition of moving-target attack capability, and the introduction of a datalink for bomb-hit indication and net-centric integration.

Tucson AZ (SPX) Oct 14, 2005
Raytheon's Joint Standoff Weapon Block II (JSOW Block II), a new variant offering significantly lower unit cost and an additional payload option, successfully flew its first captive test flight Oct. 11 at Edwards Air Force Base on a U.S. Air Force F-16 aircraft.

Raytheon is under contract with U.S. Naval Air Systems Command and expects to complete development of the JSOW Block II in early 2006. Block II is planned to reduce JSOW unit cost approximately 40 percent.

Cost reduction is achieved by reducing the parts count and improving the manufacturing process, an example of Raytheon's company-wide efforts to make operations leaner while providing superior products to customers.

All variants of future JSOW precision glide weapons will be manufactured in the Block II configuration. Block II will maintain all standoff and survivability capability of the current JSOW and will include an improved anti-jam Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

The Raptor GPS system is an advanced navigator developed by Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems and is planned for use in other Raytheon products.

Development of a new payload option for the JSOW A should be complete in early 2006. This new version will use a unitary 500-pound BLU-111 (MK-82) warhead and is designated the AGM-154A-1.

This unitary variant will eliminate the unexploded ordnance concerns of cluster munitions while maintaining or increasing effectiveness against a broad target set. It is primarily intended for the international market.

"We are working with the Navy to make JSOW the most cost-effective standoff weapon available," said Ron Shields, Raytheon's JSOW program director. "We are also developing JSOW moving target capability for land and sea targets."

MISSILE NEWS

Lockheed Martin Successfully Completes ATACMS Stockpile Reliability Test

Dallas TX (SPX) Oct 13, 2005
Lockheed Martin has successfully conducted a flight test of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) recently at White Sands Missile Range. NM.

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