The AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface-Standoff Missile program scored two successful flight tests—one from a B-1B and the other an F-16—last week, say Lockheed Martin officials. The tests, which mark the 11th success of out the last 13, demonstrated the latest upgrades to improve reliability and affordability, said company officials. USAF plans more tests this year, working toward initial operational capability of JASSM on the F-16 and B-2. The service already declared JASSM IOC for the B-1 and B-52.
With the Air Force in the midst of its biggest testing boom in decades, the Maintenance Operational Test (MxOT) Division at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., is making sure those tests include an often-overlooked perspective: that of maintainers.