- Yes
- No
History
The AGM-65 Maverick and AGM-114 Hellfire are very successful air-to-ground missiles. They were exported to many countries, and most western tactical aircraft or helicopters could operate these missiles.
However, these were developed in the 1960s and 1970s and needed to be replaced by better missile in the future. This is where the idea of replacing the AGM-65 and AGM-114 with a single missile came up.
In 2002, the United States initiated Joint Common Missile program to replace AGM-114 Hellfire and AGM-65 Maverick. A BGM-71 TOW replacement was also originally planned, but was later cancelled. The designation AGM-169 was allocated to the JCM, and test vehicles were built. But the funding was cut because of the war in Iraq, leading to the cancellation in May 2007.
Two months later, the Department of Defense started the competition for the Joint Air to Ground Missile program. It survived from a budget reduction and Lockheed Martin is chosen to continue with contract in 2013. The JAGM received designation AGM-179, low rate initial production began in 2018.
In 2022, The JAGM achieved IOC with the U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z. Testing is also underway for integration with other platforms such as the AH-64 and F/A-18E/F.
Design
The AGM-179 JAGM is basically an upgraded AGM-114 Hellfire. It combines the warhead and propulsion section of the AGM-114R with a new guidance section, so the basic flight characteristics are the same as the Hellfire.
The JAGM has millimeter wave radar/semi-active laser seeker like the Brimstone. So it is possible to implement it in SAL mode only, if the active radar guidance is not feasible.
It also utilizes inertial guidance. This is important because all Hellfires in the game now have IOGs, but this should really only be on AGM-114R and later variants.
Variants
- AGM-179A JAGM: Baseline version.
- AGM-187A JAGM-F: Fixed-wing version with different wing configuration and eject launch capability.
Platforms
AH-1Z (×16)
F/A-18E/F (×18)
Specifications
Length:
- JAGM: 69.2 in (175.8 cm)
- JAGM-F: 70 in (177.8 cm)
Diameter: 7 in (17.8 cm)
Mass:
- JAGM: 113.5 lb (51.5 kg)
- JAGM-F: 205 lb (93 kg)
Guidance: Laser+IOG, ARH+IOG
Firing range:
- JAGM: 4.9 mi (8 km)
- JAGM-F: 15 mi (24 km)
Warhead type: HEAT(tandem)
Sources
- JAGM Media Briefing by Frank St. John
- JAGM: Joint Air-to-Ground Missile from Lockheed Martin
- JAGM-F: Joint Air-to-Ground Missile-Fighter/Fixed Wing/Fast Mover from Lockheed Martin
- Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM)
- Lockheed Martin’s JAGM Successfully Completes Flying Qualities Tests On Navy’s Super Hornet from Lockheed Martin
- Lockheed Martin’s Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) Successfully Completes F/A-18 E/F Wind Tunnel Tests from Lockheed Martin
- Raytheon-Boeing Team Completes JAGM Launcher, Missiles Flight Testing on Super Hornet from Raytheon