In the first half of the 2000s, the latest guided air-to-surface cruise missile AGM-158 JASSM was adopted by several US Air Force strike aircraft. Almost simultaneously with this, work began on the creation of its improved modifications, incl. specialized. To date, we are talking about a whole family of weapons based on the JASSM. Let's consider the ways of development of the original project and the results of these works.
Basic AGM-158
The JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) program started in 1995. Development on a competitive basis continued until 1998, when the Lockheed Martin project was chosen as the winner of the program. Testing of individual components began shortly thereafter. Flight tests of the AGM-158A rocket have been carried out since 1999. Due to various difficulties, the development of the rocket was delayed, and the order for acceptance into service came out only in 2003.
The AGM-158A was a normal aerodynamic cruise missile with a launch weight of 975 kg. The glider was built taking into account the reduction of radar signature, introducing the concept of "stealth". Low power turbojet engine is used. Control systems include inertial navigation and an infrared homing head for finding a target in the final phase of flight. The target is defeated by a 420-kg warhead. The flight speed is subsonic, the range is 370 km.
The AGM-158A JASSM missile can be used by a wide range of US Air Force aircraft. It is compatible with land and carrier-based vehicles of tactical and strategic aviation.
The first episode of JASSM combat use took place on April 14, 2018. Two B-1B bombers fired 19 missiles at targets in Syria. According to the Pentagon, all missiles have reached their targets. The Syrian and Russian military, in turn, talked about the defeat of most of the missiles by air defense forces. In addition, two AGM-158A products fell and went to the Syrian army, which handed them over to Russia for study.
Increased range
Even before the completion of work on JASSM, the customer considered its flight range insufficient to solve some problems. In this regard, the JASSM-ER (Extended Range) project was launched in 2002. The upgraded missile with the AGM-158B index was supposed to fly at a range of 575 miles (925 km) and be able to carry new warheads. There were no other special requirements for the rocket.
The development of the AGM-158B took several years. Lockheed Martin has succeeded in ensuring the maximum possible unification of the new and basic product. The design of the two missiles is 70% identical, and the software is 95% identical. The customer's requirements were fully met. The estimated range has increased to the desired 575 miles. The main task of the project was solved by increasing the volume of fuel tanks and replacing the engine.
JASSM-ER tests started in 2006. The B-1B bomber became the first missile carrier. The tests were associated with some difficulties and lasted for several years. The missile was officially adopted only in 2014. The introduction of the product into the range of ammunition for various aircraft also stretched out over several years.
According to its results, the AGM-158B missile can be carried by all the main combat aircraft of the US Air Force. Long-range bombers are capable of carrying from 16 to 24 missiles on external and internal sling. Tactical aircraft carry only a few items. It is curious that, due to its large dimensions, the JASSM-ER does not fit into the cargo hold of an F-35 fighter. This, in a known manner, limits the combat qualities of the aircraft and the missile.
Since 2016The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin are pursuing an additional range extension program. The modernization of the rocket is planned to be completed in the near future. Improvements will be introduced as serial production progresses.
Limiting range
The JASSM-ER project involved a limited redesign of the basic cruise missile required to increase the range. Since last year, Lockheed Martin has been developing a completely new project with similar goals. The JASSM-XR (Extreme Range) missile should be based on the AGM-158A / B developments, but have a different design and higher performance.
The launch weight of the JASSM-XR will be increased to 2300 kg; warhead - up to 910 kg. The flight speed will remain subsonic, and the range will be increased to 1000 miles (over 1600 km).
The JASSM-XR project is still at the design stage. The tests are scheduled for the early twenties. No earlier than the middle of the decade, the missile will enter service. It can be assumed that the increase in size and launch weight in comparison with the base AGM-158 will reduce the list of carrier aircraft and negatively affect the size of their ammunition.
CHAMP project
Since 2012, several organizations led by the Air Force Research Laboratory have been working on the CHAMP (Counter-electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project). Its goal is to create a compact electromagnetic weapon capable of hitting enemy electronic systems. The finished product must fit on different types of media.
Several years ago, it became known about plans to install a CHAMP unit on a JASSM-ER cruise missile. Such weapons will appear at the disposal of the Air Force in the mid-twenties. Meanwhile, other models of electromagnetic weapons are already entering the troops. In May of this year, it was reported about the delivery of 20 Boeing missiles with a load in the form of a CHAMP unit. Prototypes from Lockheed Martin will appear later.
Anti-ship LRASM
In 2009, the Pentagon launched the LRASM (Long Range Anti-Ship Missile) program, the goal of which was to create an anti-ship missile based on the AGM-158B. It was required to make various changes to the design, change the composition of the equipment, introduce a number of new functions, and also ensure compatibility with the shipborne Mk 41 launcher.
The first tests of the systems of the future rocket were carried out in 2012. In 2013, the first launches from the carrier aircraft and from the Mk 41 installation took place. Subsequently, new launches were carried out from different carriers and in different conditions. At the end of 2018, the aircraft-based LRASM rocket was accepted into initial operation in the Air Force. In the near future, the Navy will receive its modifications of the product.
For the AGM-158C anti-ship missile system, a new control system was developed based on a multifunctional radar seeker. The search for the target is carried out in a given area. Retargeting of the missile during flight is possible. Various algorithms of operation and flight modes are envisaged, providing an effective search for a target with its subsequent destruction in all expected conditions.
In terms of dimensions and weight, the AGM-158C is close to the base AGM-158B. Flight performance remains at the same level. The customer is offered two versions of the rocket. In the first case, the product is used independently and is intended for suspension on airplanes. For ships with Mk 41 launchers, a rocket with a starting solid-propellant engine is intended.
So far, the AGM-158C LRASM missiles of two modifications are produced in a small series. In the early twenties, a large order is expected to appear for a full-scale re-equipment of the Air Force and Navy. With the help of the new LRASM anti-ship missiles, it is proposed to replace several obsolete missiles, incl. Harpoon products.
Unified family
At the beginning of the last decade, the US Air Force received the latest AGM-158A JASSM air-to-surface cruise missile. Over the course of several years after that, the development of several of its modifications with various differences and characteristic features began. According to the results of several such programs, the Pentagon has already managed to obtain aviation and naval weapons of several types, and new models are expected to appear in the future.
On the basis of the basic JASSM, missiles were created to destroy ground and surface targets with an increased flight range. The emergence of another type of weapon with increased flight characteristics and an electromagnetic weapon carrier is expected. At the same time, all new products are based on a rocket that was put into service a decade and a half ago. In new projects, a high degree of unification with basic products remains.
By taking a similar approach to developing new weapons, the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin make the process of creating new weapons to a certain extent simpler and faster. In addition, it is possible to obtain the advantages associated with the unification of weapons of different classes, incl. for different types of troops.
The base rocket AGM-158A JASSM appeared and entered service a long time ago. Its last derivatives go to the troops only now, and in parallel, new models are being developed. All this clearly shows that the weapons of the AGM-158 family have firmly taken their place in the US arsenals and will not leave them in the foreseeable future. Moreover, in the near future this family is waiting for a new interesting replenishment.
