USA Issues JSOW Block III Production Contracts
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Modifications, Missiles - Precision Attack, New Systems Tech, Project Successes, Raytheon
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AGM-154C-1 passes communications test with JSTARS aircraft. (Feb 15/10)
A $93.8 million development contract to develop the AGM-154C-1 variant of the popular JSOW glide bomb family was issued in March 2007. This new version would add moving target capability via improved imaging infrared seekers, better seeker algorithms, and a 2-way weapons data link. That combination allows the missile to be used as a secondary weapon against enemy ships, with some capability against certain moving land targets. The 2-way link ensures that targeting commands can be received, and missile health, status and position transmitted back, right up to the moment of impact. Most of those options are currently found only at the high end of the cruise missile market, giving the AGM-154C-1 an interesting positioning as a cheaper short-range alternative.
That development effort has been successful, and in late 2008 the US DoD gave the go-ahead for JSOW Block III. Now, the system has a full production contract.
Unless the entry says otherwise, Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ is the contractor, and all contracts are managed by the US Naval Air Systems Command.
Feb 15/10: Raytheon announces that its AGM-154C-1’s Strike Common Weapon Datalink (SCWDL) communicated via Link-16 nodes with a Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) aircraft. The test demonstrated the weapon’s ability to function as a node on the network and moved the system one step closer to engaging moving maritime targets. The test was part of the Navy’s Joint Surface Warfare Joint Capability Technology Demonstration.
March 13/09: A $106.5 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-07-C-0093) for Full Rate Production of 280 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) unitary warhead AGM-154C-1s, plus 1 additional unit for performance characterization testing.
Work will be performed in Dallas, TX (44%); Cedar Rapids, IA (24%); Tucson, AZ (22%), and McAllester, OK (10%), and is expected to be completed in March 2011. manages this contract.
Dec 19/08: A $17.9 million modification to a previously awarded firm fixed price contract for the special tooling and special test equipment required to maintain Joint Stand-Off Weapons (JSOW-C) production rate requirements, and to support the transition to production readiness activities for the AGM-154C-1 Variant.
Work will be performed in Tucson, AZ, and is expected to be complete in March 2010 (N00019-07-C-0093).
