AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile
A prototype AGM-179 JAGM
TypeAir-to-surface missile
Service history
In serviceAchieved IOC March 1st 2022 with the U.S. Marine Corps[1]
Production history
ManufacturerLockheed Martin
Unit costUS$319,000[2] (FY 2023)
Specifications
Mass108 lb (49 kg)
Length70 in (1,800 mm)
Diameter7 in (180 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

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 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]

Each team submitted its proposal in the spring of 2011, with contract award expected in the first quarter of 2012. However, in September the Army and Navy requested the JAGM program be terminated.[10] JAGM survived a budget reduction in 2012 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 was to offer 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] A Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract for JAGM was approved in 2018.[20] The AGM-179A achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with USMC AH-1Z helicopters in early 2022, clearing the weapon for operational deployment.[1]

On 30 August 2022, the JAGM was declared ready for full-rate production. 1,000 missiles had been produced by February 2022, 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 16 km (10 mi) without changing the missile's dimensions.[21]

On 16 November 2022, Lockheed Martin flight tested the JAGM-Medium Range, or JAGM-MR, which traveled 16 km. The version also 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]

Launch platforms

Operators

 Netherlands
 Poland
 United Kingdom
 United States
  • 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

References

  1. 1 2 "Marine Corps Joint Air-to-Ground Missile Achieves Initial Operational Capability". United States Navy. 17 May 2022. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ "JAGM Media Briefing" (PDF). Lockheed Martin. 20 February 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "ARMY RDT&E BUDGET ITEM JUSTIFICATION (R2 Exhibit) - PDF" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. 1 2 "Pentagon Plans Industry Day For Joint Air To Ground Missile". Defense Daily. Archived from the original on 2007-12-09. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ "Lockheed Martin Awarded $64 Million JAGM Contract For Extended Technology Development". Lockheed Martin. 17 August 2012. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022.
  13. ↑ Majumdar, Dave (23 October 2012). "Raytheon submits JAGM contract proposal". Flight Global. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023.
  14. ↑ "US Army awards JAGM continued technology development contract". Army Technology. 6 December 2012. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023.
  15. ↑ Malenic, Marina (18 July 2013). "US Army to move ahead with Lockheed Martin JAGM". Janes. Archived from the original on 24 July 2013.
  16. ↑ "JAGM: Joint Air-Ground Missile Again". Defense Industry Daily. 15 June 2022. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024.
  17. ↑ Parsons, Dan (6 February 2015). "US army seeks upgrades for Hellfire missile guidance system". Flight Global. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023.
  18. ↑ Raytheon sticking by tri-mode missile despite Lockheed JAGM win - Flightglobal.com, 4 August 2015
  19. ↑ "MDS Designators allocated after 19 August 1998 (until October 2018)". Designation Systems. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023.
  20. ↑ "Lockheed Martin's JAGM missile approved for LRIP phase". Air Recognition. 28 June 2018. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018.
  21. ↑ 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.
  22. ↑ 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.
  23. ↑ Butler, Amy (13 October 2010). "U.S. Marines Propose AH-1Z Production Boost". Aviation Week. Archived from the original on 7 January 2024.
  24. ↑ "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.
  25. ↑ "Poland – AH-64E Apache Helicopters". Defense Security Cooperation Agency. 21 August 2023. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023.
  26. ↑ 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.
  27. ↑ 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.
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