The Navy's Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) with a Broach penetration multi-stage warhead successfully completed a dynamic sled test earlier this week at the Pendine, Wales test range in the United Kingdom, and completely perforated a steel-reinforced concrete target.

The purpose of the test was to demonstrate hard target perforation of the Broach warhead system in the AGM-154C JSOW Unitary variant. The test simulated the speed at which a tactical weapon would impact a target.

"The success of this test indicates that the Broach warhead can achieve the required performance on the JSOW-C weapon," said the Navy program manager.

The JSOW-C is the first U.S. weapon to integrate the Broach, developed by BAE Systems RO Defence in the UK. Incorporating multi-stage warhead technology, the Broach warhead consists of a penetrating shaped-charge in front of a conventional follow-through bomb. It provides blast/fragmentation effectiveness, as well as hard target penetration.

The sled test follows two successful free-flight demonstrations of the JSOW-C without the warhead. The flights successfully demonstrated the weapon's imaging infrared terminal seeker and autonomous targeting acquisition (ATA) technology, which provides precision terminal guidance.

Independent dynamic sled testing of the Broach warhead system will be conducted later this year. Operational testing of the JSOW-C airframe with the Broach against hardened targets is planned for early- to mid-2003.

"The JSOW-C with the Broach warhead, IIR seeker and ATA technology will provide the warfighter with an unbeatable launch-and-leave, highly survivable weapon with true standoff precision strike capability," said Wade Smith, Raytheon JSOW program director.

The AGM-154 JSOW family of cost effective, highly lethal weapons is the new generation glide weapon that ensures warfighter survivability by enabling precision air strike launches from well beyond most enemy air defenses. The JSOW variants integrate different lethal submunitions, which in addition to the Broach for the AGM-154C, include the BLU-97 Combined Effects Munition for the AGM-154A and the BLU-108 Sensor Fused Weapon submunition for the AGM-154B. JSOW is manufactured by Raytheon Missile Systems, Ariz.

JSOW-A and JSOW-B have completed Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) and are in production. JSOW-C is in EMD.

JSOW is currently flying on the F/A-18, F-16 and B-2 aircraft and recently completed integration on B-52 aircraft. Other ongoing JSOW integration efforts include the B-1B and the F-15E.

Since 1999, JSOW has been proven in combat in Operation Southern Watch, NATO Operation Allied Force, and Operation Enduring Freedom.

The JSOW program is managed by the Program Executive Office, Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation (PEO (W)). For more information about PEO (W) log on to www.strikenet.js.mil.