Lockheed Martin has recently demonstrated the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) dual-mode guidance section engaging a laser-designated moving target during an internally funded flight test at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

The rail-mounted JAGM guidance section flew six kilometers, engaged its precision-strike, semi-active laser and hit the moving target. The flight test, which was part of Lockheed Martin's internal research and development program, is an important risk reduction milestone critical to Lockheed Martin's performance on the U.S. Army's 27-month Continued Technology Development (CTD) program.

"This flight test demonstrates the maturity of Lockheed Martin's JAGM solution, and our readiness to enter production upon completion of the Army's CTD program," said Frank St. John, vice president of tactical missiles and combat maneuver systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

"We will continue risk reduction activities to ensure that our JAGM system is affordable and provides significant performance advantages to meet warfighter needs."

Prior to the flight test, Lockheed Martin completed an extensive Critical Design Review demonstrating that the dual-mode design meets all customer-specified requirements. The dual-mode seeker features the HELLFIRE precision-strike semi-active laser and the all-weather fire-and-forget LONGBOW millimeter wave radar sensors demonstrated in prior JAGM guided flights.

Lockheed Martin's JAGM guidance section will be manufactured on the existing HELLFIRE production line. The modularity and open architecture of Lockheed Martin's JAGM design readily support a low-risk spiral to a tri-mode seeker, should the Army's Incremental Acquisition Strategy require it in the future.

Platforms for JAGM include the U.S. Army's AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aerial system. Lockheed Martin's JAGM is also compatible with other HELLFIRE platforms.