Live warhead tests of Raytheon's AGM-154C, the unitary warhead variant of the joint stand-off weapon (JSOW) are scheduled to start within the next couple of months.
The warhead sled tests will integrate the broach-blast fragmentation/penetration warhead developed by BAE Systems.
The US Navy/Raytheon team has successfully completed its third free-flight demonstration at the Naval Air Systems Command western test range complex.
Target
The flight exercised autonomous target acquisition (ATA) capability and was the first test shot against a vertical surface representing targets such as hardened aircraft hangars and building walls.
After being released from a Boeing F/A-18C flying at 14,000 feet and 0.75 Mach, the weapon navigated autonomously approximately 12nm (22km) from the launch point.
Captain Robert Wirt, the Navy's JSOW programme manager says: "The capability demonstrated by this test will further enable absolute combat power for the war fighter."
Source: Flight Daily News
