- Yes
- No
History
In 1986, the U.S. Navy started the AIWS (Advanced Interdiction Weapon System) program to develop a new precision guided standoff weapon. It was to replace older laser-guided munitions like Paveway series LGB, AGM-123 Skipper II and AGM-65E Maverick, so it was planned as a fire-and-forget weapon which does not requires additional target designation after deployment.
After the Texas Instruments (later sold to Raytheon) received a contract in June 1992, AIWS program merged with similar U.S. Air Force program and renamed as JSOW (Joint Standoff Weapon). In response to several requirements from the Air Force and Navy, Texas Instruments developed a GPS/INS-guided, unpowered glide bomb with modular warhead section. The AGM-154A achieved Initial Operational Capability in 1999, and the AGM-154C entered service in 2005.
The AGM-154A’s production terminated in 2005, because of concerns with the potential unexploded ordnance problems of submunitions. As of 2024, AGM-154A-1 and AGM-154C is still operational in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.
Design
Airframe
The JSOW’s airframe is designed to be kinematically efficient, while reducing radar cross section.
It features folding wings that pops out after release. These wings provide additional lift during flight for extended range. As a result, the JSOW achieved glide ratio of 12:1.
Though it was labeled “AGM” which means air-to-ground missile, the JSOW is a unpowered glide bomb as like AGM-62 Walleye. It has no engine or rocket motor for propulsion.
Warhead
JSOW warhead for each variants
Warhead section of JSOW is modular, so it could accommodate several types of warhead depends on variant.
AGM-154A uses 145 BLU-97/B submunitions. Each bomblets contains a shaped charge with 0.64 lb (290 g) of Cyclotol, which could penetrate more than 7 inches (177 mm) of RHA. It also cause damage by bursting bomb case into 300 preformed 30-grain fragments, while scattering ignited zirconium for incendiary effect.
AGM-154A-1 uses BLU-111/B warhead. This 500-lb warhead contains 192 lb (87.1 kg) of PBXN-109.
AGM-154C uses BROACH warhead. This is a hard target penetrator consisting of WDU-44/B augmenting charge and WDU-45/B follow through bomb. Total explosive weight is 193 lb (87.6 kg).
Guidance
The JSOW is controlled by flight control system in tail, with two fixed horizontal wing and four cruciform control fins. Guidance method is GPS-aided inertial navigation, so it is a fire-and-forget weapon but cannot attack moving target.
AGM-154C variant does have imaging infrared seeker for terminal guidance, but it is only for autonomous target acquisition.
Variants
AGM-154A: Baseline version for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. Contains 145 BLU-97/B submunitions.
AGM-154A-1: AGM-154A with single BLU-111/B warhead instead of the submunitions.
AGM-154C: U.S. Navy only version, replacing AGM-62 Walleye. Contains BROACH warhead.
Platforms
AV-8B
F-15E (tested only)
F-16
Specifications
Length: 160 in (4.06 m)
Diameter: Box-shaped, 13 in (33 cm) on a side
Wingspan: 106 in (2.69 m)
Weight: 1,065 lb (483 kg)
Warhead:
- AGM-154A: 145× BLU-97/B Combined Effects Bomb
- Explosive type: Cyclotol
- Explosive mass(each): 0.64 lb (290 g)
- Warhead type: HEAT
- AGM-154A-1: BLU-111/B
- Explosive type: PBXN-109
- Explosive mass: 192 lb (87.1 kg)
- AGM-154C: WDU-44/B + WDU-45/B
- Explosive mass(total): 193 lb (87.6 kg)
- Warhead type: HEAT + SAP-HE
Guidance: GNSS
Glide ratio: 12:1
Launch envelope:
- Speed: Mach 0.6-0.95
- Pitch: -45° ~ +10°
- Roll: 15°
- Altitude: 200-30,000 ft (0.06-9.1 km)
Sources
- LT Dan Hinson and Mike Griffith, AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon. Patuxent River, ML: NAWCAD, 1995, pp. 4-20
- Kyle Travis Turco, Development of the Joint Stand Off Weapon (JSOW) Moving Target Capability: AGM-154 Block Three program. Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2006, pp.
- FY2004 Annual Report for the Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation, 2004, pp. 175-177
- Field Artillery Journal July-August 1986, Volume 54, Number 4. Fort Sill, OK: U.S. Army Field Artillery School, 1986, pp. 52
- Hazard Classification of United States Military Explosives and Munitions. McAlester, OK: U.S. Army Defense Ammunition Center Logistics Review and Technical Assistance Office, 2012, pp. 46, 142, 145
- Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) by NAVAIR
- Storm Shadow: Achievement of an IM Compliant Lethal Package, BAE Systems, pp. 2-3
- USAF Fighter Weapons Review: Volume 34, Issue 2. Nellis AFB, NV: USAF Fighter Weapons School, 1986, pp. 27-29
