The US Navy wants to accelerate the start of production of the hard-target Raytheon AGM-154C Joint Stand Off Weapon (JSOW-C), using funds earmarked for the anti-armour AGM-154B, procurement of which has been shelved by the navy and US Air Force.
JSOW-C is to be operationally fielded in 2004, but the navy would like to advance this by eight months and bring forward initial operational capability to 2003. The GPS-guided munition is armed with the BAE Systems Broach unitary warhead for use against caves and hardened targets.
A low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract for 35 weapons is due to be awarded at the end of the year. "If we're to accelerate, we need to do it now," says Capt Robert Wirt, USN programme manager conventional strike weapons. "This is strictly a funding issue," he adds.
The USN needs US Congressional approval to shift fiscal year 2003 funding from JSOW-B to JSOW-C production. The USN and USAF have shelved plans to procure 4,300 of the anti-armour submunition-dispensing version of JSOW in the wake of the Afghanistan experience. The navy plans to order 3,000 of the Broach variant.
International interest in the AGM-154 is starting to pick up, with Australia, Canada, Malaysia and Poland briefed on the weapon.
Source: Flight International