AGM-169 Joint Common Missile
AGM-169 JCM | |
---|---|
Type | Tactical air-to-surface missile |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
Specifications | |
Mass | 49 kg (108 lb) |
Length | 1.775 m (5 ft 10 in) |
Diameter | 0.178 m (7 in) |
Wingspan | 0.325 m (12¾ in |
Warhead | Multi-purpose shaped charge/blast fragmentation |
Detonation mechanism | N/A |
Engine | Solid-fueled rocket motor |
Operational range | > 28 km |
Flight altitude | N/A |
Guidance system | Semi-active laser guidance, imaging infrared and millimeter wave active radar homing |
Launch platform | Aircraft: AH-64 Apache, F/A-18E/F , F-16, F-15E, F-35, A-10, AH-1 Cobra, and others |
The AGM-169 Joint Common Missile (JCM) was a tactical air-to-surface missile developed by the Lockheed Martin corporation from the United States.
Overview
The missile was designed to replace the AGM-114 Hellfire and AGM-65 Maverick. Its seeker head used a combination of semi-active laser, millimeter wave, and IR guidance similar to that found on the FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile. This allows the missile to have a greater fire and forget capability and to operate off all current air platforms. The missile has longer range, a more potent warhead, and a "safing" system, allowing naval aircraft to return to ship without jettisoning the munitions.
This missile also shares similarities to the MBDA Brimstone missile.
Development
The development of the missile was first halted in December 2004. The program was on schedule and within its budget at that time, according to Lockheed Martin. However, due to the constraints of the war in Iraq, funding was cut. In 2005 and 2006, Congress began looking into reviving the program when it was found that modernizing the Hellfire would yield higher costs and reduced capability.
The JCM has been test flown on the AH-64D in a captive test configuration.
In May 2007 the U.S. Army formally brought the program to a close and requested that Lockheed Martin cease all development work. It is expected that a follow on program, the Joint Air to Ground Missile (JAGM) will be opened to competitive tender.[1]
Program status
- December 2004 - Pentagon announces cancellation of JCM.[2]
- March 2005 - Congressional lobbying to keep the program alive.[3]
- September 2005 - Captive JCM test package flown on AH-64D Apache.[4]
- January 2006 - Congress restores $30 million to keep the program in mothballs.[5][6]
- September 2006 - U.S. Army includes $150 million for JCM in FY-08 budget request.[7]
- May 2007 - The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command formally instructs Lockheed Martin to cease work on the program and close out the contract by June 15, 2007.
See also
References
- ^ "Pentagon Plans Industry Day For Joint Air To Ground Missile".
- ^ JCM - Joint Common Missile - Defense Update
- ^ JCM program fired but not forgotten - Defense Industry Daily
- ^ "LOCKHEED MARTIN'S JOINT COMMON MISSILE FLIES ON AH-64D APACHE LONGBOW".
- ^ Joint Common Missile: It Lives! - Defense Industry Daily
- ^ Congress revives missile killed by DoD - Military.com
- ^ Joint Common Missile Gets New Life - Military.com