 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Raytheon Developing New Variant of Joint Standoff Weapon
Farnborough (SPX) Jul 21, 2004 Raytheon is developing a new variant of the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) that will significantly lower unit cost and offer an additional payload option. Raytheon, under contract with U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, expects to complete development of the JSOW Block II in early 2006. Block II is planned to reduce JSOW unit cost by reducing the parts count and improving the manufacturing process. All variants of future JSOW will be manufactured in the Block II configuration. Block II will maintain all of the standoff and survivability of the current JSOW and include an improved anti-jam Global Positioning System receiver. Development of a new payload option for the JSOW A is underway which should also be complete in early 2006. The new version will use a unitary 500 pound BLU 111 warhead. This unitary variant will eliminate the unexploded ordnance concerns of cluster munitions while maintaining or increasing effectiveness against a broad target set. It is primarily intended for the international market. Work will be performed at Raytheon's Missile Systems business in Tucson. "We've received fantastic feedback on the combat capability of JSOW," said Ron Shields, Raytheon's JSOW program director. "We are working with the Navy to make JSOW an even more cost effective weapon with increased capability." More than 400 JSOW-A weapons have been used in combat operations to date. JSOW is a joint Navy and Air Force program. It is a family of low-cost, air-to-ground weapons that employ an integrated Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation system to guide the weapon to the target. The JSOW uses a common and modular weapon body capable of carrying various payloads. Its long standoff range of 70 nautical miles (maximum kinematic performance) allows delivery from well outside the lethal range of most enemy air defenses. The AGM-154A (also called JSOW-A) variant dispenses BLU-97 combined-effect bomblets for use against soft and area targets. It is produced for use on the F/A-18, F-16, F-15E, B-1, B-2 and B-52 aircraft. The AGM-154C, or JSOW-C, variant incorporates an imaging infrared seeker for high precision and a BAE Systems' Broach multi-stage warhead that has both a blast-fragmentation and hard target penetration capability for use against point targets. JSOW-C entered low-rate initial production in June 2003. It is currently being produced for Navy F/A-18s and has been selected by Poland for use on its F-16s. The new JSOW variant builds on a legacy of 13 years of development and production experience providing the weapons to Navy and Air Force for use on six different aircraft. Raytheon continues to add new capabilities to meet our customers' needs. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Raytheon SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express GPS Applications, Technology and Suppliers
Galileo GIOVEA Using Marotta Equipment For Its Propulsion Systems
Cheltenham, England (SPX) Jan 09, 2006Marotta UK is pleased to announce that it designed, developed and qualified equipment for the cold gas propulsion systems on board the Galileo GIOVE-A, part of Europe's Galileo navigation program, successfully launched by Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL). |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
