Lockheed Martin Wins Joint Air-to-Ground Missile Contract From US Army, Navy

Lockheed Martin has won a $66.3 million contract for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile(JAGM) program from US Army as well as Navy.

"Since contract award in August, we conducted a fifth flight test that further demonstrated the high degree of design maturity and readiness for operational testing that will support future JAGM production," said US Army Project Manager Col. James Romero in the company's statement Friday.

The Aug. 25 test was the first JAGM test using the Active Fire and Forget, Lock-On After Launch engagement mode against a stationary armored target.

Throughout all five tests, we have demonstrated that both sensors - onboard radar and semi-active laser - effectively operate together to provide an enhanced capability against stationary and moving targets for precision point or fire-and-forget targeting."  Romero added.

The 24-month EMD phase will include JAGM production, test qualification and integration on the AH-64 Apache and AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopters.

The EMD phase also establishes an initial low-rate manufacturing capability in support of two follow-on low-rate initial production options.  

"We will continue to work closely with the Army and Navy as we move through the EMD phase and into low-rate initial production, ensuring we meet Initial Operational Capability in 2018 on budget and on schedule." said Frank St. John, vice president of tactical missiles and combat maneuver systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

Prior to EMD contract award, Lockheed Martin completed the Army's Continued Technology Development (CTD) phase, which included design, test and demonstration of the JAGM guidance section. During CTD flight testing, Lockheed Martin's JAGM achieved 100 percent mission success.

JAGM is the next generation air-to-ground missile for use on joint rotary-wing and unmanned aircraft systems for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps.

JAGM's multi-mode seeker provides the warfighter with precision strike and fire-and-forget capabilities against moving targets in all weather conditions.