The upcoming test will reportedly utilize Lockheed’s new vertical launch system called the Quad Launcher, which will allow the missiles to be fired from medium and large surface vessels.

The company recently showcased a model of a generic vessel equipped with four JAGM Quad Launchers, indicating its readiness for the much-awaited integration.

Lockheed did not provide a specific date for the planned live-fire demonstration.

If successful, the test could allow for the official integration of Quad Launchers on surface vessels to defeat maritime threats.

“We are still in the development phase of the vertical launch capability and demonstrating to [the] US [Department of Defense] is our near-term goal,” said Patrick Sweeney, Lockheed’s senior manager for international business development.

Potential Applications

The sea-launched JAGM test is part of a broader initiative to transform the munition into a multi-domain weapon system capable of addressing a wide variety of threats.

It can be used to engage uncrewed surface vessels and drones, similar to those used by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

Currently, the US Navy employs AGM-114 Longbow Hellfire missiles for targeting small surface vessels.

The existing version of the JAGM only allows for launch on aerial platforms, such as the AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter.

Lockheed plans to offer the sea-launched JAGM to the US military and the Australian Defence Force.

The post Lockheed Braces for First Sea-Launched JAGM Missile Test appeared first on The Defense Post.

An AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter operated by the US Marine Corps was used to fire the live missile as part of an expeditionary strike exercise in the Philippine Sea.

According to the service, the weapon scored a direct hit against a towed target vessel, causing it to descend into the ocean.

The successful test highlighted the JAGM’s ability to defend key maritime space against hostile surface ships.

It also allowed the USMC to demonstrate its capability to “deliver precision strikes at sea and safeguard a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

In 2022, the US military tested the JAGM against land targets to further refine its employability in expeditionary advanced base operations.

Designed for High-Value Targets

Development of the AGM-179 JAGM began more than a decade ago to replace the legendary and highly reliable Hellfire missile.

It was designed for helicopters, drones, and other fixed-wing platforms to destroy high-value maritime and land targets — whether stationary or moving.

The weapon utilizes a multi-mode seeker to ensure a precision strike even in adverse weather and obscured battlefield conditions.

It also boasts a fire-and-forget capability and can withstand a variety of countermeasures.

“JAGM has repeatedly proven that it can be counted on when it matters most, providing mission-focused offensive and defense capabilities and maintaining a competitive edge against any potential adversaries,” Lockheed vice president Jerry Brode said.

In 2020, the JAGM failed to achieve its desired effects on a target during a live-fire test, prompting Lockheed to improve the missile.

The post America’s New JAGM Missile Sinks Mock Vessel in First Pacific Test appeared first on The Defense Post.

Conducted at China Lake Test Range in California, the trial demonstrated the weapon’s tri-mode seeker and its ability to aid target discrimination among multiple targets.

“The enhanced tri-mode seeker provides a new level of precision guidance and defense capabilities, allowing JAGM-MR to lock onto the selected target even when there’s multiple targets in the field,” company director Joey Drake said.

Furthermore, the activity tested the seeker’s near-infrared sensor, which enhances missile performance by allowing it to effectively track targets and guide the weapon for precision strike.

In December last year, the JAGM-MR also undertook a live-fire test, demonstrating its increased 16-kilometer (10-mile) range capability.

‘Turnkey Solution’

Lockheed’s JAGM is a precision-guided munition designed to neutralize high-value stationary, moving, or relocatable land and maritime targets.

In addition to its fire-and-forget capability, the missile can effectively operate in adverse weather, battlefield obscured conditions, and against a variety of countermeasures.

Its warhead can destroy heavily armored vehicles, maritime patrol vessels, urban structures, and field fortifications.

According to Drake, the JAGM product line not only helps address militaries’ much-needed capabilities, but provides “a turnkey solution for the challenges that they face in today’s complex threat environment.”

The post Lockheed Tests JAGM-MR Target Discrimination Tri-Mode Seeker appeared first on The Defense Post.

Lockheed will produce the missiles for the army and Australia, the Czech Republic, France, South Korea, and Thailand.

The contract offers three additional follow-on awards of up to $4.5 billion over the next four years starting in late 2023.

Lockheed Anticipates Increased Demand

Lockheed anticipates a significant increase in international demand for the JAGM, while the Hellfire, integrated with over 15 platforms, has more than 30 international customers.

“Not only does this contract award support sustained production, but this is the first joint production contract award from the U.S. government for JAGM and Hellfire,” Lockheed air-to-ground missile systems program management director Joey Drake said. 

“This contract award, along with last year’s JAGM full-rate production decision, shows the army’s confidence in our product’s combat effectiveness and defensive capabilities, including its potential for longevity due to the support for increased production.”

The Defense Post earlier reported the army announcement, which didn’t specify the weapons.  

Air-to-Ground Missiles

The AGM-114 Hellfire is a 100-pound (45 kilograms) missile capable of striking a target from a range of up to 8 kilometers (5 miles). 

Although originally designed for rotary-wing aircraft, the missile can now be launched from air, sea, and ground platforms.

An intended replacement for several air-to-ground missiles, including the Hellfire, the JAGM is designed to take out high-value stationary and moving land and naval targets from a distance of up to 16 kilometers (10 miles).

The post US Army Contracts Lockheed to Produce Hellfire, JAGM Missiles appeared first on The Defense Post.

The multi-platform and multi-mission launcher capability allows operational flexibility to engage a wide range of targets.

Designed to operate in severe flight conditions, the launcher is equipped to “recognize and fire all Hellfire variants and Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) in any sequence plausible.”

“The M299 Launcher is the go-to solution for multiple aircraft and ground platforms when it comes to defending, deterring, and defeating current and future threats,” JAGM Systems program director Joey Drake said.

Several US Army platforms have been successfully integrated with the M299 launcher, including the AH-64D, AH-64E, Seahawk, Cobra, and Tigre.

Lockheed said the launcher exceeded specified operational reliability of 99 percent per mission, the company said in an October 5 statement.

Lockheed will manufacture and deliver the M299 launchers by 2025.

The post Lockheed to Supply M299 Launchers to US Army for $25.9M appeared first on The Defense Post.

The JAGM was developed to replace several air-to-ground missiles, including the AGM-114 Hellfire.

Missile Applicable to Multiple Platforms

A low-rate initial production contract for the missile was approved in 2018. However, unsatisfactory results during trials delayed its fielding by the US Marines and the army. 

The missile finally achieved Initial Operational Capability with a marine Viper helicopter in March, paving the way for its operational deployment. A decision on the missile’s full-rate production is expected this year.

The outlet quoted Lockheed vice president Rita Flahty as saying the missile “will have applicability to a number of platforms,” including “ground-launched capability… an anti-armor capability, a [Maneuver-SHORAD] capability.”

Mobile Short Range Air Defense

The US Army began deploying the Mobile Short Range Air Defense or M-SHORAD last year to bolster defenses against manned and unmanned aerial attacks. The vehicle replaced the Avenger Air Defense System inducted in 1989.

The platform “integrates existing guns, missiles, rockets and sensors onto a Stryker A1 vehicle.”

Doubling Missile Range

Lockheed Martin is also working to double the missile’s range to 16 kilometers (10 miles), without changing its exterior and weight, Defense News reported, citing Flahty.

She added in response to a recent army request for information to replace the Stinger missile that “JAGM could be a great capability to offer in that evaluation.”

The post Lockheed Considering Reconfiguring JAGM for Air Defense  appeared first on The Defense Post.

The missile, developed by the army and marines, achieved the milestone after a thorough evaluation process, including being used on sea and land-based targets.

“[Initial Operational Capability] IOC marks a major milestone for the JAGM program and significant increase in capability for the AH-1Z,” Deputy program manager for precision-guided missiles, Cmdr. J. Reid Adam, said. 

Next Level Unlocked: #MarineCorps declares Initial Operating Capability for the AGM-179A Joint Air-to-Ground Missile on the AH-1Z Viper.

: https://t.co/VkWi7UKzAI pic.twitter.com/ltWcSGBlC0

— NAVAIR (@NAVAIRNews) March 7, 2022

To Replace Hellfire, Maverick 

The missile is intended to replace the air-launched BGM-71 TOW, AGM-114 Hellfire, and AGM-65 Maverick missiles on army, navy, and marine platforms.

It uses semi-active laser guidance for precise targeting and millimeter-wave radar for “active fire-and-forget capability during the day, night, adverse weather and battlefield obscurants.”

The missile’s multi-purpose warhead consists of a “precursor warhead” that penetrates armored targets followed by a time-delayed main warhead, which detonates inside.

“Incorporating systems such as JAGM on the AH-1Z is essential in keeping the platform at the forefront of warfighting capabilities,” USMC H-1 light/attack helicopter program manager Col. Vasilios Pappas remarked.

The post Joint Air-to-Ground Missile Achieves Initial Operational Capability  appeared first on The Defense Post.

Eight shots were fired at armored and semi-armored vehicles in various scenarios, the service revealed.

The data collected from the exercise will be analyzed to refine the missile’s employability “in expeditionary advanced base operations, such as strike operations and close air support.”

In a December test, the Bell aircraft struck maritime targets with the missile as part of a larger upgrade plan. The US Navy recently awarded Northrop Grumman a $24.3 million contract to provide the aircraft with additional sensor networking, enabling it to exchange tactical “text, imagery, and digital voice messages” in near real-time through Link 16 data link kits. 

Joint Air-to-Ground Missile 

The JAGM is the intended replacement for “Hellfire II and Longbow Hellfire missiles on the US Army’s Apache helicopter and the Warrior extended-range multi-purpose [unmanned aerial system], the Arapaho armed reconnaissance helicopter,” according to Lockheed.

“JAGM will also replace the Maverick missile on the F/A-18 Hornet jet fighter.”

Features

The missile’s lethality comes from its multi-purpose warhead, which consists of a “precursor warhead” that first penetrates armored targets such as ships, vehicles, bunkers, and buildings. Then, the time-delayed main warhead detonates “to incapacitate the target from within.”

The missile features a multi-mode seeker with a semi-active laser for precision strikes and millimeter-wave radar for “active fire-and-forget capability during the day, night, adverse weather and battlefield obscurants.”

The weapon’s “insensitive-munition rocket motor” also allows continuous propulsion, even in extreme temperatures.

The post US Marines Viper Helicopter Test-Fires JAGM at Land Target appeared first on The Defense Post.

The systems will be developed at the Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control segment in Orlando, Florida, and are expected to replace existing TOW, Maverick, and Hellfire air-to-ground missiles used by the US Army and Navy.

The JAGM will be launched from several manned and unmanned aircraft, including the Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, the Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAV, the Navy MH-60R helicopter, and the Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter.

Production is slated for completion by September 2024.

About the JAGM Missile

The army describes the JAGM system as an improved “air-to-ground missile capability for rotary-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial systems.”

It uses a multimode seeker and a semi-active laser sensor for added fire precision regardless of light or weather conditions. A multipurpose warhead makes the system lethal against various targets, from standard to armored vehicles and maritime patrol craft.

The missile can engage multiple targets simultaneously, and its laser mode can give any system that uses the JAGM increased accuracy while decreasing collateral damage.

The JAGM has a diameter of 7 inches (17.78 cm), weighs 115 lbs (52.16 kg), and is 69 inches (1.75 m) long. The missile has a firing range of 500-8,000 meters (0.31-4.9 mi).

The post Lockheed to Build Advanced JAGM Missiles for Drones, Helicopters appeared first on The Defense Post.

The $49,618,289 modification to a 2015 contract has an estimated completion date of February 28, 2021, the Tuesday, September 11 release said.

In late June, the new JAGM system passed review, enabling it to enter low-rate initial production, and Lockheed said at the time that U.S. Army operational capability is expected this year.

JAGM is a multi-sensor air-to-surface missile ultimately intended to replace the Hellfire family of missiles and the U.S. Navy’s Maverick missiles.

The system employs multi-mode guidance – semi-active laser and millimetre wave radar sensors – giving the missile a precision and ‘fire-and-forget’ strike capability against stationary land and maritime targets.

The U.S. Army-led program also includes requirements for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, and is designed to be compatible with all rotary and fixed wing aircraft that can fire the Hellfire.

The Navy completed its first flight test of the JAGM on December 5 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, and the Army has conducted a number of tests, including from MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft.

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