STEWART PENNEY / LONDON
Selection scheduled for early 2004, leading to four-year development programme
Bidders in the US Joint Common Missile (JCM) competition expect a request for proposals to be released this month. A selection is expected early next year, leading to a four-year system development and demonstration (SDD) programme.
A Boeing/Northrop Grumman team, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are vying for the programme. Initially 77,000 JCMs will be acquired to replace Raytheon AGM-65 Mavericks and Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfires.
A recently formed joint programme office comprises the US Army and Navy, while the UK has observer status. The US Air Force could procure the JCM while a second development phase in 2008 could see JCM adapted for ground launch.
Industry sources say the RFP could be issued as early as this week. The sources are expecting a 60-day response period with the winner to sign a 48-month SDD contract in March next year.
Raytheon aviation missile systems business development manager Thomas Moody says the JCM will be a 14km (8nm)-range missile, and the new weapon retains the AGM-114's 180mm (7in) diameter and 1.8m length.
Moody, speaking at Defence Systems & Equipment International 2003 in London last week, said the JCM will have a seeker comprising millimetre-wave radar, imaging infrared and semi-active laser sensors operating as an integrated system. This allows the missile to continue if the sensor is lost without the need to reacquire the target.
A competition will be run for a second-source seeker. This will be a different system to ensure competition, says Moody.
As part of SDD, the winner will complete an early test of the motor - supplied by Aerojet or ATK - to ensure the doubled range is achieved, while the warhead will also be evaluated. Moody says the JCM will have a single warhead type for use against armoured vehicles, bunkers, buildings and surface vessels.
Source: Flight International