Description
The Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) is a key program that will replace five types of the older air-to-ground weapons currently in the naval inventory. It is a joint Navy-Air Force weapon development program, with the Navy as the lead service. It will provide a family of precision-guided weapons that will allow naval aircraft to attack targets at increased stand-off distances, greatly increasing aircraft survivability. JSOW will be usable in adverse weather conditions and will give aircrews the ability to attack multiple targets in a single sortie. The JSOW family uses a common weapon body for all variants. The AGM-154A variant carries BLU-97 combined-effect bomblets for use against area targets. To provide anti-armor capability, a follow-on version will carry a BLU-108 sub-munitions payload derived from the Sensor Fused Weapon (SFW). A third variant is being developed for a unitary warhead to provide blast-fragmentation capability.
Background
The AGM-154A and AGM-154B have completed Engineering and Manufacturing development and are in production. The demonstrated ability to launch from high or low altitudes and accurately navigate to the target area via selected waypoints is designed to further enhance weapon and aircrew survivability. JSOW is currently flying on the F/A-18 and F-16 aircraft and will soon be flying on the Air Force's B-52 and B-2.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Air-to-surface standoff weapon for use against a variety of targets depending on payload.Contractor: Raytheon Co.
Guidance: GPS/INS (Global Position/Inertial)
Length: 160 inches (4.1 meters)
Diameter: box shaped 13 inches on a side
Weight: From 1065 pounds (483 kilograms) to 1500 pounds (681 kilograms) depending upon the payload, sensor and propulsion combination.
Wingspan: 106 inches
Aircraft Compatability: F/A-18, F-16, AV-8B, P-3
Range: Low altitude launch - 12nm, High altitude launch - 40nm
Warhead: BLU-97 - Combined effects bomblets, BLU-108 - Sensor fused weapon, BLU-111 - 500 lb general purpose warhead
Unit Cost: $150,000
Date Deployed: January 1999
U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Cary Humphries - An F-16CJ fighter aircraft at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, is uploaded with a full compliment of weapons including the new AGM-154A Joint Stand-off Weapon (JSOW). The 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base is the first Air Force F-16 unit to implement the JSOW system. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Cary Humphries)
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