Lockheed Martin's Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) recently completed a successful Product Verification Test (PVT) at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

Released by a B-52 at an altitude of 25,000 feet, and speed of Mach 0.76, JASSM navigated through a preplanned route before destroying its intended target, meeting all mission objectives. The test validated software upgrades for 158 Lot 8 JASSM missiles, which will begin delivery in third quarter 2011.

"Flight validation of JASSM's software enhancements continues our efforts to expand missile capability and demonstrate reliability," said Alan Jackson, JASSM program director in Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control business.

"Additionally, we are constantly striving to make JASSM more affordable for our customers."

The JASSM PVT success follows the Lot 9 contract award for 170 baseline and 30 Extended Range (ER) missiles, ongoing F-15E integration test flights, and the January 2011 JASSM-ER Milestone C low rate initial production decision.

JASSM is a critical weapon for the U.S. Air Force. The program has over 1,400 missiles on contract, with more than 1,080 delivered. Also produced for foreign military sale, baseline JASSM is integrated on multiple aircraft including the B-1, B-2, B-52, F-16 and F-18 aircraft. F-15E integration is proceeding as planned with the F-35 designated as a future platform.

Armed with a dual-mode penetrator and blast fragmentation warhead, JASSM and JASSM-ER cruise autonomously day or night in all weather conditions.

Both missile variants share the same powerful capabilities and stealthy characteristics, though JASSM-ER has more than two-and-a-half times the range of baseline JASSM for greater standoff range.

Both 2,000-pound cruise missiles employ a state-of-the-art infrared seeker and Global Positioning System receiver to dial into specific target aimpoints.

Lockheed Martin manufactures JASSM at the company's world-class, award-winning manufacturing facility in Troy, Ala.