AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon
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The Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) was a joint venture of the United States Navy and Air Force to deploy a standardized medium range precision guided weapon, especially for engagement of defended targets at ranges outside that of standard anti-aircraft defenses, thereby increasing aircraft surviability and minimizing friendly losses. It is now a Navy only program. The JSOW comes in two variants, A and C, designed for use against area targets and hard, fixed targets respectively.
General characteristics
- Primary Function: Air-to-surface Standoff from Point Defense (SOPD) weapon *for use against a variety of targets.
- Contractor: Raytheon Co.
- Guidance: GPS/INS (Global Position/Inertial), Terminal IR Seeker (AGM-154C *unique)
- Length: 160 inches (4.1 m)
- Diameter: box shaped 13 inches (330 mm) on a side
- Weight: From 1,065 pounds (483 kg) to 1,500 pounds (681 kg)
- Wingspan: 106 inches (2.69 m)
- Aircraft Compatibility:
- *Navy: F/A-18 C/D, F/A-18 E/F, F-35
- *Air Force: F-16 Block 40/50, B-1, B-2, B-52, F-15, F-117, A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-35A
- Range:
- *Low altitude launch - 15 nautical miles (28 km)
- *High altitude launch - 65 nautical miles (120 km)
- Warhead(s):
- *BLU-97 - Combined effects bomblets (JSOW A)
- *BLU-108 - Sensor fused weapon (JSOW B - now cancelled)
- *Broach multi-stage warhead (JSOW C)
- Unit Cost:
- *AUPP AGM-154A, $148,000
- *AGM-154C, $198,000, based on PB04, BY$(1990)
- Date Deployed: January 1999
Development information
The AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon or JSOW is currently in the fleet and in use by the US Navy. The AGM-154 is intended to provide a low cost, highly lethal glide weapon with a standoff capability. The JSOW family of air-to-surface glide weapons are 1,000 lb (450 kg) class weapons that provide standoff capabilities from 15 nautical miles (28 km) low altitude launch and up to 60 nautical miles (111 km) high altitude launch. The JSOW can be used against a variety of land targets and operates from ranges outside enemy point defenses. The JSOW is a launch and leave weapon that employs a tightly coupled Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS), and is capable of day/night and adverse weather operations. The AGM-154A (JSOW A) is uses GPS/INS for terminal guidance, while the AGM-154C (JSOW C) uses a infra-red seeker for terminal guidance.The JSOW is just over 160 inches (4.1 m) in length and weighs about 1000 pounds (483 kg). The JSOW was originally to be delivered in three variants, each of which uses a common air vehicle, or truck, while substituting various payloads. The AGM-154B (JSOW B) has been cancelled.
AGM-154A (baseline JSOW)
The warhead of the AGM-154A consists of 145 BLU-97/B submunitions. The bomblets have a shaped charge for armor defeating capability, a fragmenting case for materiel destruction, and a zirconium ring for incendiary effects.AGM-154B (anti-armor)
The warhead for the AGM-154B is the BLU-108/B from the Air Force's Sensor Fuzed Weapon (SFW) program. The JSOW B was to carry six BLU-108/B submunitions. Each submunition releases four projectiles (total of 24 per weapons) that use infrared sensors to detect targets. Upon detection, the projectile detonates, creating an explosively formed, shaped charge capable of penetrating reinforced armor targets. This program was canceled.AGM-154C (unitary variant)
The AGM-154C uses an Imaging Infrared (IIR) terminal seeker with autonomous guidance. The AGM-154C carries the BROACH warhead. This two stage warhead is made up from a WDU-44 shaped augmenting warhead and a WDU-45 follow through bomb. The weapon is designed to attack hardened targets.Initial deployment testing occurred aboard the USS Nimitz and later aboard the USS Eisenhower. The first combat employment of the JSOW occurred over southern Iraq on January 25 1999. Full rate production was then begun on December 29 1999. In June 2000 Raytheon was contracted to develop an enhanced electronics package for the JSOW to prevent electronic spoofing of GPS signals.
The JSOW contains a modular control and deployment interface that allows future enhancement and additional configurations since it is likely that additional variants will emerge. Raytheon has placed a tremendous investment in the JSOW program and will certainly try to extend the Department of Defense contracts for as long as possible with system upgrades and repackagings for new missions and targets.
External links and references
- [GlobalSecurity.org]
- [Federation of American Scientists Military Analysis Network]
- [Raytheon: Joint Stand Off Weapon]
- [Designation Systems]
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