AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile | |
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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 |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
Unit cost | US$319,000 (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) |
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. The U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps plan to buy thousands of JAGMs.
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.
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. In 2008, Raytheon and Boeing teamed up on a $125 million contract, 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.
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. In 2012, the JAGM survived a budget reduction, with reduced funding.
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. 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. 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.
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. 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.
The designation AGM-179 was assigned to the JAGM program. In 2018, a Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract for JAGM was approved. In early 2022, the AGM-179A achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with USMC AH-1Z helicopters, clearing the weapon for operational deployment.
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.
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.
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."
Launch platforms
- AH-64 Apache
- MQ-1C Gray Eagle
- MH-60R/S Seahawk
- MH-60 Black Hawk, Direct Action Penetrator (DAP)
- AH-1Z Viper
- 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
- Selected by the Netherlands to equip its AH-64E Apache helicopters.
- Selected by Poland as part of the AH-64E Apache procurement.
- Selected for use on AH-64E Apache helicopters. 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.
- 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.
See also
- 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
- ^ "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.
- 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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
- 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
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