USAF receives 2,000th JASSM
Lockheed Martin has made the delivery of the 2,000th Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) to the US Air Force (USAF), the company announced on 6 September.
The 2,000th JASSM was completed under the 12th production lot, which includes 150 baseline JASSM cruise missiles and 60 JASSM-Extended Range (ER) missiles. Production of this lot began in January 2016.
JASSM and JASSM-ER are long-range, conventional, air-to-ground, precision standoff missiles that use infrared seeker and anti-jam GPS receiver for precision routing and guidance, with a penetrator/blast fragmentation warhead.
Both variants feature the same capabilities and stealth characteristics, although JASSM-ER's range is two and a half times that of the JASSM. JASSM is effective against high-value, fortified, fixed and relocatable targets.
Lockheed Martin was awarded a $116.8 million contract for continued JASSM-ER production in April 2016.
More from Defence Notes
-
Top-level commitments but no meat in UK Defence Industrial Strategy’s Statement of Intent
The initial document focused more on creating the right partnerships and inspiring investment in defence than on any details of how future UK Armed Forces would be armed.
-
UK begins process on new industrial strategy
The first stage of developing a new UK Defence Industrial Strategy has highlighted failings in current structures with solutions expected to be proposed in next year’s full strategy.
-
Romanians put pro-Russian candidate into presidential runoff even as the government spends west
Romania joined NATO more than two decades ago and the country is vital to the alliance’s geographic reach and its ability to supply Ukraine with weapons.
-
What the future holds for Ukraine and NATO under a Trump administration
Although Trump’s geopolitics policy for Europe remains unclear, defence analysts from the US and Europe predict how his incoming administration would attempt to handle critical issues on the continent.
-
RUSI deputy: UK needs longer procurement plans and improved awareness of US sift to Indo-Pacific
The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October was the first by a Labour government in 14 years which has also launched a review into defence procurement programmes.
-
Australia outlines longer punch and brings local industry onboard
The Australian government has placed a focus on Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) which has included the purchase of additional long-range rocket systems and investments in local production of missiles.