The Long Range Missile Systems Group at Eglin AFB, Fla., and Lockheed Martin recently completed a successful first ground test of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range. According to the Eglin Eagle, the test at the new ground facility went flawlessly and gave the Air Force a good opportunity to monitor many of the missile’s subsystems in operation throughout the flight profile. USAF expects to field the JASSM-ER—with a range greater than 500 nautical miles compared to 200 NM for basic JASSM—on B-1B bombers in 2008. Developmental flight test is set for this spring.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
