AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile | |
---|---|
![]() A prototype AGM-179 JAGM | |
Type | Air-to-surface missile |
Service history | |
In service | Achieved IOC March 1st 2022 with the U.S. Marine Corps[1] |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
Unit cost | US$319,000[2] (FY 2023) |
Specifications | |
Mass | 108 lb (49 kg) |
Length | 70 in (1,778 mm) |
Diameter | 7 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]
Description
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- AH-64 Apache
- MQ-1C Gray Eagle[4]
- MH-60R/S Seahawk
- MH-60 Black Hawk, Direct Action Penetrator (DAP)
- AH-1Z Viper[24]
- OH-58F Kiowa
- AH-6 Little Bird
- MQ-9 Reaper
- Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
- Mk 41 Vertical Launching System, with Lockheed Martin Host Extensible Launching System (ExLS)
Operators
[edit]- Selected by the Netherlands to equip its AH-64E Apache helicopters.[25]
- Selected by Poland as part of the AH-64E Apache procurement.[26]
- Selected for use on AH-64E Apache helicopters.[27] A proposed foreign military sale of 3,000 AGM-179A Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles for $957.4 million was approved by the United States Department of State in October 2023.[28]
- The JAGM was intended for joint service with the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Marine Corps by providing a single missile configuration for many platforms. JAGM offered the services increased operational flexibility and reduced logistics support costs.[4]
See also
[edit]- Naval Air Systems Command
- List of missiles by country
- AGM-65 Maverick – (United States)
- AGM-114 Hellfire – (United States)
- AGM-169 Joint Common Missile – (United States)
- BGM-71 TOW – (United States)
- Brimstone – (United Kingdom)
- Spike – (Israel)
- Precision Attack Air-to-Surface Missile – (United States)
References
[edit]- ^ Trevithick, Joseph A. (18 February 2020). "Here Is What Each Of The Pentagon's Air-Launched Missiles And Bombs Actually Cost". The Drive. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 15 Feb 2020.
- ^ "JAGM Media Briefing" (PDF). Lockheed Martin. 20 February 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2014.
- ^ a b c "ARMY RDT&E BUDGET ITEM JUSTIFICATION (R2 Exhibit) - PDF" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
- ^ Trimble, Stephen (17 August 2010). "VIDEO: Raytheon/Boeing show JAGM direct hit". Flight Global. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
- ^ a b "Pentagon Plans Industry Day For Joint Air To Ground Missile". Defense Daily. Archived from the original on 2007-12-09. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
- ^ "Raytheon and Boeing Team for Joint Air to Ground Missile Program". Raytheon. 14 April 2008. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- ^ "U.S. Army Awards Raytheon-Boeing Team $125 Million Contract for Joint Air-to-Ground Missile". Raytheon. 22 September 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- ^ "Lockheed Martin Wins $122 Million Technology Development Contract for Joint Air-To-Ground Missile Program". Lockheed Martin. 18 September 2008. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022.
- ^ Sherman, Jason (11 October 2011). "Army, Navy Propose Terminating Joint Air-to-Ground Missile Program". Inside Defense. Archived from the original on 28 November 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
- ^ Trimble, Stephen (26 January 2012). "Pentagon slashes fighter squadrons, airlifters in new budget proposal". Flight Global. Archived from the original on 15 June 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
- ^ "Lockheed Martin Awarded $64 Million JAGM Contract For Extended Technology Development". Lockheed Martin. 17 August 2012. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022.
- ^ Majumdar, Dave (23 October 2012). "Raytheon submits JAGM contract proposal". Flight Global. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023.
- ^ "US Army awards JAGM continued technology development contract". Army Technology. 6 December 2012. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023.
- ^ Malenic, Marina (18 July 2013). "US Army to move ahead with Lockheed Martin JAGM". Janes. Archived from the original on 24 July 2013.
- ^ "JAGM: Joint Air-Ground Missile Again". Defense Industry Daily. 15 June 2022. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024.
- ^ Parsons, Dan (6 February 2015). "US army seeks upgrades for Hellfire missile guidance system". Flight Global. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023.
- ^ Raytheon sticking by tri-mode missile despite Lockheed JAGM win - Flightglobal.com, 4 August 2015
- ^ "MDS Designators allocated after 19 August 1998 (until October 2018)". Designation Systems. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023.
- ^ "Lockheed Martin's JAGM missile approved for LRIP phase". Air Recognition. 28 June 2018. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018.
- ^ Judson, Jen (9 September 2022). "Army, Marines declare Joint Air-to-Ground Missile ready for production". Defense News. Archived from the original on 7 January 2024.
- ^ Judson, Jen (29 December 2022). "Lockheed doubles Joint Air-to-Ground missile range in flight test". Defense News. Archived from the original on 7 January 2024.
- ^ "A US Marine Corps attack helicopter fired off a new 'fire and forget' missile for the first time in the Pacific, striking a moving vessel". 28 June 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Butler, Amy (13 October 2010). "U.S. Marines Propose AH-1Z Production Boost". Aviation Week. Archived from the original on 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Laser- en radargeleide raketten voor Apache-gevechtshelikopters". Dutch Ministry of Defense (in Dutch). 7 March 2023. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "Poland – AH-64E Apache Helicopters". Defense Security Cooperation Agency. 21 August 2023. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023.
- ^ Allison, George (8 June 2021). "UK confirms JAGM missile for AH-64E Apache fleet". UK Defence Journal. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023.
- ^ Allison, George (24 October 2023). "Britain to buy 3,000 JAGM air-to-ground missiles". UK Defence Journal. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
External links
[edit]- Army RDT&E 2009 Budget Item Justification (PDF) Archived 2012-10-02 at the Wayback Machine
- Army RDT&E 2010 Budget Item Justification (PDF) Archived 2016-12-23 at the Wayback Machine
- U.S. Navy NAVAIR JAGM page
- Lockheed Martin JAGM page
- Raytheon JAGM page
- 2012 Army Weapon Systems Handbook - JAGM
- HELLFIRE II Missile