Lockheed Martin receives $305mn contract from USAF for JASSM and JASSM-ER missiles

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Lockheed Martin receives $305mn contract from USAF for JASSM and JASSM-ER missiles
 
Lockheed Martin has received a $305.4 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for continued production of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and its Extended Range (ER) version. The Lot 13 contract includes 140 baseline JASSMs for U.S. and international partners, 140 JASSM-ER missiles, data, tooling and test equipment. The Lot 13 award represents the largest JASSM-ER order to date and brings total missiles under contract to more than 2,300.
     
Lockheed Martin receives 305mn contract from USAF for JASSM and JASSM ER missiles 640 001A Lockheed Martin's AGM-158B / JASSM-ER missile dropped from a B-1 Lancer strategic bomber
     
“JASSM and JASSM-ER have an important role in the United States’ and its allied partners’ long-term strategic defense plans,” said Jason Denney, program director of long-range strike systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “The missiles delivered under Lot 13 will provide an effective and more affordable capability against Anti-Access/Area Denial threats, thus providing a strategic deterrent for U.S. and international warfighters.”

The contract represents the fifth production lot for JASSM-ER, which received full-rate production approval last year. Recent program milestones include a Foreign Military Sales contract to integrate JASSM onto Poland’s F-16C/D aircraft and an additional contract in support of F/A-18C/D aircraft integration for Finland.

Armed with a penetrating blast-fragmentation warhead, both missiles can be used in all weather conditions. They share the same powerful capabilities and stealth characteristics, though JASSM-ER has more than two-and-a-half times the range of JASSM for greater standoff range. These 2,000-pound cruise missiles employ an infrared seeker and enhanced digital anti-jam GPS receiver to dial into specific points on targets.

Effective against high-value, well-fortified, fixed and relocatable targets, JASSM is integrated on the U.S. Air Force’s B-1B, B-2, B-52, F-16 and F-15E. The B-1B also carries JASSM-ER. Internationally, JASSM is carried on the F/A-18A/B and the F-18C/D aircraft.

Produced at the company’s manufacturing facility in Troy, Alabama, more than 1,700 JASSMs have been delivered.