Raytheon, Boeing set sights on JAGM

David Donald

Tuesday, 17 June, 2008

On 19 May a joint Raytheon/Boeing team submitted its proposal for the Joint air to Ground Missile (JaGM) programme, following a teaming agreement that was announced in april. Both parties have extensive missile experience and numerous advanced products in production or development, while Boeing brings special expertise in weapons integration with fixed and rotary-wing platforms.
JAGM is a single weapon solution for the US Army and Navy to replace the air-launched TOW, Hellfire and Maverick. Initially it will be integrated with the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and MH-60R Seahawk for the Navy and AH-1Z Super Cobra of the Marine Corps, while the US Army will use it on the AH-64 Apache Longbow and ARH-70 helicopters, plus the MQ-1C Sky Warrior UAS.
JAGM has risen from the ashes of the Joint Common Missile effort. Although JCM was terminated, the need for a beyond line-of-sight/extended range (BLOS/ER) missile remained. Following proposal submissions, a risk reduction contract award is expected in August/September to two suppliers. They will have 27 months to develop and demonstrate their proposals before a down-select decision kicks off an SDD phase. An in-service date of 2016 is expected. Raytheon and Boeing’s proposal leverages existing technology as much as possible for a low-risk/high-reliability approach. Elements from the Small Diameter Bomb, Brimstone and Precision Attack Missile programmes are harnessed to meet the new requirement. Because it is being integrated with a wide range of platforms, JAGM will have to perform in a variety of environments, from the heavy vibration, dust and heat of helo ops in the desert, to the extreme cold and aerodynamic loads associated with fast jets.
Raytheon/Boeing’s JAGM proposal is a 7-inch body diameter missile with a length of about 70 inches. Launch weight is 115-120 lb and the weapon will be compatible with current launcher systems such as the M299. The insensitive motor gives a range of 16km when fired from a helicopter, rising to 28km when launched from a fast jet. It uses a Gen III multimode seeker with laser, imaging infrared and millimetre-wave radar guidance. Typically the missile would use all three systems – a major advance over current systems – but can keep going if one is lost. It can be programmed to switch or ignore modes, manually or automatically. The weapon can be used in direct-fire, line-of-sight mode or use offboard targeting in BLOS/ER modes. JAGM can be used from long stand-off distances to keep the launch platform away from threats, yet provide extreme accuracy when used in proximity to friendly forces.
The warhead requirement is for a single multi purpose solution for a variety of target sets, including tanks and vehicles (moving and stationary), bunkers, buildings and boats. However, the weapon’s modularity allows specialist warheads to be fitted.
Although not part of the initial requirement, a datalink is an option to allow the shooter or designator to redirect the weapon in flight. Raytheon and Boeing envisage several more applications for the weapon in the future; technology insertion updates and expanded functionality being facilitated through the modular design.

JAGM will replace helo and UAS-launched TOW and Hellfire missiles, while adding anti-armour/bunker capability to the Super Hornet’s repertoire. Boeing already has valuable experience of integrating this type of weapon onto fast-jets through the Brimstone/Tornado programme for the RAF