JAGM: Ready for Production

[Lt-Col A. Tack]

Uploaded by LockheedMartinVideos on Oct 20, 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-ZTJqIzikw

Lockheed Martin's JAGM is mature, capable and ready for the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase. Its missile production track record and active missile assembly lines uniquely position it to move seamlessly into EMD and low-rate initial production, with the same commitment and people that make HELLFIRE II the most trusted precision-guided weapon on today's battlefield.

[Token White Guy]

Nice video.

[C.Puffs]

I could swear I read somewhere today it was cancelled.

[Lt-Col A. Tack]

I could swear I read somewhere today it was cancelled.

Interesting, I didn't know.
I thought this program was doing well.

[Halidon]

It is progressing fairly well, hasn't reached down-select yet. Funding is on the chopping block but the axe hasn't quite fallen yet.

[FightinBluHen51]

It is progressing fairly well, hasn't reached down-select yet. Funding is on the chopping block but the axe hasn't quite fallen yet.

Correct.

More here...

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/10/new-missile-kia/

[Lt-Col A. Tack]

From the article

"Lockheed Martin is competing with a Boeing-Raytheon team-up to design a replacement for small missiles like the TOW and the Hellfire."


Isn't this thing also supposed to replace the Maverick?

[Halidon]

From the article

"Lockheed Martin is competing with a Boeing-Raytheon team-up to design a replacement for small missiles like the TOW and the Hellfire."


Isn't this thing also supposed to replace the Maverick?
Yes, that is one of the more critical "needs" as well. You can make a decent case for sticking with Hellfire, though I'd disagree, but Maverick is massively out of date and past the point where a new coat of paint can carry it forward.

[C.Puffs]

Yes, that is one of the more critical "needs" as well. You can make a decent case for sticking with Hellfire, though I'd disagree, but Maverick is massively out of date and past the point where a new coat of paint can carry it forward.

So "massively out of date" in fact that Raytheon just recently tested it's latest version. :roll:

http://raytheon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1754

IMO JAGM (and it's previous incarnation "JCM") are good replacements for Hellfire but are woefully inadequate for replacing Maverick. Maverick comes with either a 125lb shaped charge warhead or a 300lb blast/penetrating warhead. Just a tad more punch than either of the two smaller missiles - and is just as accurate.

[Lt-Col A. Tack]

So "massively out of date" in fact that Raytheon just recently tested it's latest version. :roll:

http://raytheon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1754

IMO JAGM (and it's previous incarnation "JCM") are good replacements for Hellfire but are woefully inadequate for replacing Maverick. Maverick comes with either a 125lb shaped charge warhead or a 300lb blast/penetrating warhead. Just a tad more punch than either of the two smaller missiles - and is just as accurate.

Exactly my thoughts. And if we need a missile similar to the Hellfire that has to be launchable from jets, couldn't we just buy the Brimstone? I believe a dual mode Brimstone has two of the three guidance modes planned for the JAGM. We still have the Maverick, laser guided Zunis, and Hydras being developed with various guidance types. JAGM could definitely be a capable missile, but I'm not sure it isn't redundant.

[Halidon]

So "massively out of date" in fact that Raytheon just recently tested it's latest version. :roll:

http://raytheon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1754

IMO JAGM (and it's previous incarnation "JCM") are good replacements for Hellfire but are woefully inadequate for replacing Maverick. Maverick comes with either a 125lb shaped charge warhead or a 300lb blast/penetrating warhead. Just a tad more punch than either of the two smaller missiles - and is just as accurate.
Alright, outdated in absolute terms has hyperbolic, but not suited to many missions for which it is being used isn't as attention-getting. Maverick is huge, sure, but it also means aircraft can't carry many. Its huge warhead is great for taking out MBT formations or heavily fortified bunkers, but its causes too much damage for precision COIN use. Each maverick has a single guidance option, you can't swap on the fly between laser/thermal/MWR. JAGM gives fixed-wing aircraft a very flexible, useful option as well as upgrading the rotary-wing and drone fleets from the Hellfire.

[C.Puffs]

Alright, outdated in absolute terms has hyperbolic, but not suited to many missions for which it is being used isn't as attention-getting. Maverick is huge, sure, but it also means aircraft can't carry many. Its huge warhead is great for taking out MBT formations or heavily fortified bunkers, but its causes too much damage for precision COIN use. Each maverick has a single guidance option, you can't swap on the fly between laser/thermal/MWR. JAGM gives fixed-wing aircraft a very flexible, useful option as well as upgrading the rotary-wing and drone fleets from the Hellfire.

I wouldn't consider Maverick as "huge" (they use to fire them from MERs back in the day). Come to think of it they fired Mavericks from UCAVs back in the 60's 70s. It fits the spot between a Hellfire and JSOW.

[Halidon]

Program appeared to be dead earlier this year but it looks as if they're keeping it alive on life support (http://defense.aol.com/2012/05/03/rare-new-program-start-jagm-rises-from-acquisition-cemetery/) for now.

[popsicle]

Alright, outdated in absolute terms has hyperbolic, but not suited to many missions for which it is being used isn't as attention-getting. Maverick is huge, sure, but it also means aircraft can't carry many. Its huge warhead is great for taking out MBT formations or heavily fortified bunkers, but its causes too much damage for precision COIN use. Each maverick has a single guidance option, you can't swap on the fly between laser/thermal/MWR. JAGM gives fixed-wing aircraft a very flexible, useful option as well as upgrading the rotary-wing and drone fleets from the Hellfire.


So not really outdated at all is it...

Really it's simply not the best tool for the current wars which don't need a monster missile with a big bang, rather they need a slightly smaller missile.

In terms of guidance, it is within the realms of possibility that the next (next) version of Maverick will have a tri-mode seeker using Raytheon's new experience with these, when the brass realize that they want the flexibility of the JAGM in a larger package.