JASSM Certified for Operational Use

JASSM Certified for Operational Use

http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_aerospacedaily_story.jsp?id=news/jas10223.xml

By Aerospace Daily Staff
October 22, 2003

Lockheed Martin’s Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) has been certified for operational use by the JASSM Joint Program Office and the B-52 Systems Program Office, the company said Oct. 21.

JASSM, a 2,000-pound cruise missile with a dual-mode penetrator and blast-fragmentation warhead. In addition to the B-52, JASSM is planned for deployment on the B-1, B-2, F-16 and F/A-18, Lockheed Martin said.

“JASSM provides the Air Force with kick-the-door-down capability,” Gerry Freisthler, director of the Air Armament Center’s Lethal Strike project office at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., said in a company statement announcing the move.

Lockheed Martin delivered the 42nd JASSM to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., for use on B-52s, in accordance with a government request that the first missiles delivered go to the B-52 fleet.