Lockheed Martin recently tested its Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) tri-mode seeker in high-speed captive flight tests on a Sabreliner jet at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., demonstrating the robustness of the seeker on fixed-wing aircraft.

The long-range, high-speed seeker tests were company funded and collected data that validated the maximum ranges of the imaging infrared (I2R) and semi-active laser (SAL) sensor modes at speeds approaching 400 knots at a 20,000 ft altitude.

"We continue to invest in JAGM testing to mature our design," said Hady Mourad, JAGM program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "We plan to conduct additional fixed-wing seeker tests in the near future against maritime surface combatants, and we expect the same robust performance."

During the captive flights on the Lockheed Martin Sabreliner series 60 jet, acting as both a surrogate tactical fixed-wing JAGM weapon launch aircraft and as a surrogate JAGM in-flight missile, simultaneous I2R and SAL sensor data was collected from long range against representative urban and vehicle targets.

Conducted at altitudes and airspeeds reflecting typical fixed-wing target engagement profiles, positive SAL, cooled I2R and millimeter wave sensor detections occurred at ranges far exceeding the threshold target engagement range requirements of the F/A-18 Super Hornet.

JAGM is the next-generation air-to-surface guided missile that is being competed as the replacement for the currently fielded HELLFIRE, LONGBOW, Airborne TOW and Maverick missiles for the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps. The next-generation JAGM must meet all eight critical capability gaps identified and revalidated twice in the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) process.

Threshold aviation platforms for JAGM include the U.S. Army's AH-64D Apache attack helicopter, MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aerial system and OH-58D CASUP Kiowa Warrior armed reconnaissance helicopter; the U.S. Marine Corps' AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter; and the U.S. Navy's MH-60R Seahawk armed reconnaissance helicopter and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet jet fighter. JAGM initial operational capability (IOC) on the AH-64D, AH-1Z and F/A-18E/F is scheduled for 2016; IOC for the MH-60R, OH-58 CASUP and MQ-1C is 2017.