Lockheed Martin is studying development of a miniaturised version of its AGM-158 JASSM cruise missile for carriage by Lockheed Martin F-35 and F/A-22 fighters as well as the Northrop Grumman B-2 bomber.
Lockheed Martin is also working on development of an anti-shipping variant of the baseline JASSM, and a loiter capability for the extended- range variant for long-range engagement of time-sensitive targets.
Randy Bigum, vice-president strategic weapons at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, says the miniature JASSM variant is being examined as a means of ensuring the low-observable characteristics of aircraft such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and F/A-22 Raptor are not compromised by the missile's radar signature when carried on external hardpoints. The miniature version will probably have a reduced range and smaller warhead.
The existing JASSM has an acknowledged range in excess of 370km (200nm). JASSM-ER will have a range of more than 925km.
Bigum says the proposed JASSM-ER loiter mode will allow for launch of the weapon against a pre-programmed target, but would defer terminal engagement for extended periods with infrared and electro-optical sensors searching for alternate targets of opportunity. A datalink would be required to provide human-in-the-loop control during the loiter phase.
Studies of the anti-shipping variant have been requested by the US Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, Bigum says.
Source: Flight International
