Evolution of Lockheed Martin's F-16 Fighting Falcon continues, with the US Air Force's certification of the carriage and release of the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM).
John Bean, Lockheed Martin's vice-president of F-16 programmes, says the addition of the missile to the range of weapons the aircraft can carry is "significant in several respects.
"JASSM is the longest-range and most sophisticated weapon in the F-16's large weapons inventory. This illustrates the exceptional flexibility of the F-16 as a transformational weapons system, as evidenced by it being the first fighter certified to deliver this new weapon."
The F-16 is certified to carry two of the stealthy cruise weapons, which are employed to attack heavily-defended, hardened, high-value targets from ranges of more than 320km (175nm).
Cruise missiles have traditionally been the exclusive realm of the bomber community because they were so big and heavy, notes Randy Bigum, vice-president of strike weapons at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "JASSM changes all of that by providing a cruise missile that is light enough to be carried by the fighter fleet as well."
ALAN DRON
Source: Flight Daily News
