Submitted by TEAM Public Affairs, PEO (W)

September 20, 2000

A pair of Joint Standoff Weapon launches on the China Lake, Calif. land range have shown that a new full-rate production variant of JSOW performs as well as the older variant – and at a substantially lower cost.

The new variant used in the test was equipped with a low-cost guidance-electronics unit. Additional modifications – a reconfigured control section and software changes – were designed to increase robustness and reliability.

The older weapon (PRM-1) was unmodified for this test. The purpose of the test was to demonstrate that the new configuration did not sacrifice any of JSOW’s proven accuracy and lethality capabilities, and that under identical launch and flight profiles, both weapons would perform similarly.

On the day of the test, an F/A-18C flown by Cmdr. Mike "Murph" Murphy took off from Armitage Field at China Lake, with both versions of the weapon loaded. Both were carrying live submunitions. They were launched thirty minutes apart, and at the same speed, altitude, and launch point. Each weapon flew a "bearing to target" (no waypoints) course and dispersed its munitions over the target area.

The two weapons’ flights and the bomblet dispense points were nearly identical," said Jeff Tunnell, Acting JSOW project director. "We examined the telemetry data; everything worked the same, flew the same profile, dispensed properly. Performance wise, we’re confident of the new design changes."

JSOW is one of the most versatile weapons in the Navy and Air Force inventory. The ability to reprogram target coordinates right up to the moment of launch gives great flexibility to mission planners and strike pilots.

Using global positioning system and inertial navigation system guidance, the unpowered glide weapon can fly more than 40 miles to a target, approaching by either a straight-in run or a more evasive waypoint-navigation course.

When JSOW reaches its programmed destination, it calculates the optimum point for releasing its submunitions on the target. There are three different JSOW variants, including two submunition despensing payloads and a third single warhead version in development. Each is suited to a different mission.

JSOW’s first combat action was against Iraqi air defenses in 1999. Because of its lethality, long standoff range, and "launch and leave" capability, it quickly became one of the top weapons of choice for the Navy.

The weapon has hit the intended aimpoint 100 percent of the time during allied operations in Kosovo and Iraq. An Airwing Commander on the USS Carl Vinson called JSOW "the biggest tactical advance in strike warfare in 15 years."

The JSOW program is managed by the Conventional Strike Weapons program office (PMA-201). PMA-201 reports to the program executive officer, Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation (PEO (W)). For more information about PEO (W), log on to: http://www.strikenet.js.mil.