AGM-179 JAGM

Last updated
AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile
AGM-179 JAGM.png
A prototype AGM-179 JAGM
Type Air-to-surface missile
Service history
In serviceAchieved IOC March 1st 2022 with the U.S. Marine Corps [1]
Production history
Manufacturer Lockheed Martin
Unit costUS$319,000 [2] (FY 2023)
Specifications
Mass108 lb (49 kg)
Length70 in (1,778 mm)
Diameter7 in (178 mm)

Operational
range
5 mi (8.0 km) [3]
Guidance
system
Semi-active laser and millimeter-wave radar
Launch
platform
Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft

The AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) is an American military program to develop an air-to-surface missile, to replace the current air-launched BGM-71 TOW, AGM-114 Hellfire, and AGM-65 Maverick missiles. [4] The U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps plan to buy thousands of JAGMs. [5]

Contents

Description

The Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) program is a follow-on from the unsuccessful AGM-169 Joint Common Missile program, that was cancelled due to budget cuts. JAGM will share basically the same objectives and technologies as the JCM, but will be developed over a longer time scale. [6]

History

In June 2007, the US Defense Department released a draft request for proposals (RFP), launching a competition for the Joint Air to Ground Missile (JAGM) program. [6] In 2008, Raytheon and Boeing teamed up on a $125 million contract, [7] [8] and Lockheed Martin received a $122 million technology development contract for the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) system. The 27-month contracts from the U.S. Army's Aviation and Missile Command is for a competitive risk-reduction phase. [9]

In the spring of 2011, each team submitted its proposal , with a contract award expected in the first quarter of 2012. However, in September 2011, the Army and Navy requested the JAGM program be terminated. [10] In 2012, the JAGM survived a budget reduction, with reduced funding. [11]

In 2012, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon received contracts from the U.S. Army to extend the JAGM technology development program, including the design, test, and demonstration phases for the JAGM guidance section. [12] [13] [14] In 2013, the Army announced it would not award Raytheon a contract for the remainder of the Technology Development (TD) phase, and will continue with Lockheed's contract. [15] In February 2012, the Navy and Marine Corps terminated their investment in the program, saying it was a "manageable risk" to do so and that they would instead focus on the GBU-53/B StormBreaker and continued Hellfire procurement, making the JAGM an Army-only program. In March 2014, they re-entered the program, with documents showing integration of the missile onto Marine AH-1Z helicopters. [16]

In 2015, the Army issued an RFP for a JAGM guidance section upgrade. Lockheed Martin offered its dual-mode laser and millimeter wave radar seeker, and Raytheon may submit its tri-mode seeker which adds imaging infrared if it chooses to compete. [17] Lockheed Martin was awarded a $66 million engineering and manufacturing contract to combine its laser and millimeter wave seekers into the Hellfire Romeo missile body. Raytheon chose not to compete, but retains its tri-mode seeker should the Army request it. [18]

The designation AGM-179 was assigned to the JAGM program. [19] In 2018, a Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract for JAGM was approved. [20] In early 2022, the AGM-179A achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with USMC AH-1Z helicopters, clearing the weapon for operational deployment. [1]

In August 2022, the JAGM was declared ready for full-rate production. By February 2022, 1,000 missiles had been produced , manufacturing at the minimum sustainment rate, under low-rate production. Improvements to the JAGM are being developed, such as a medium-range variant with a range of 10 mi (16 km), without changing the missile's dimensions. [21]

In November 2022, Lockheed Martin flight tested the JAGM-Medium Range, or JAGM-MR, which traveled 10 miles. The version incorporates a tri-mode seeker, adding an imaging sensor, which was originally a requirement for the missile but was dropped due to cost factors. It was added back in the JAGM-MR as seeker technology became more affordable. Lockheed claims the upgraded capability can be provided at a cost close to the baseline JAGM. [22]

In June 2024, A 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit attack helicopter fired off a missile in the Pacific, striking a moving target vessel. According to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, "this EXPO strike launched the first live JAGM from an AH-1Z in the Indo-Pacific region and employed a variety of munitions against a high-speed towed target." [23]

Launch platforms

Operators

Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

See also

Related Research Articles

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