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| Science & Technology |
| JASSM-ER completes first launch test |
| 2006-06-02 |
| The Air ForceÂ’s newest cruise missile was successfully launched for the first time May 18. The Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile - Extended Range was released from a B-1B Lancer and cruised more than 400 nautical miles to its target at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. "This was the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people within the JASSM-ER team," said Lt. Col. Stephen Davis, JASSM Block 2 Squadron commander. "Everything went as planned and the launch was a total success." The stealthy cruise missile is an autonomous, conventional munition designed to defeat heavily defended, high-priority enemy targets deep behind enemy lines. Although JASSM-ER looks the same and provides all the capabilities of the baseline missile, it has a new engine and carries more fuel. Those changes enable JASSM-ER to fly more than 500 nautical miles as compared to JASSMÂ’s range of more than 200 nautical miles. "These low-risk modifications were made without disturbing the missileÂ’s outer shape and size, thus reducing the cost and development time for the effort," said Mike VandenBoom, JASSM-ER chief engineer. Like the original JASSM, the extended range missile uses its inertial navigation and global positioning systems to find its intended target and then its infrared seeker for pinpoint accuracy right before impact. JASSM-ER can be released in virtually any weather and with its extended range will provide another tool to combatant commanders once in the Air Force inventory. "JASSM-ER couples lethal accuracy with extended standoff range, giving the warfighter a reliable and safe option for eliminating critical first strike defenses," said Col. John Griggs, 308th Armament Systems Group commander. The B-1B is JASSM-ERÂ’s threshold aircraft, but plans are in the works to integrate onto other systems. "Like the baseline version, JASSM-ER will be capable of employment from the B-2, B-52, F-15 and F-16," said JASSM-ER test engineer Buff Tibbetts. This launch was the first in a series of flight tests that are scheduled to run through December 2008. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 I wonder. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-06-02 14:57 |
| #1 "test engineer Buff Tibbetts" Kicking ass runs in the family? |
| Posted by: Throluting Thravimble3768 2006-06-02 14:12 |