A Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile released from a B-52H at 25,000 feet in altitude flew its programmed flight profile and struck its designated target in a recent test at White Sand Missile Range, N.M., announced Lockheed Martin, the stealthy cruise missile’s manufacturer. The test, which the company said met all mission objectives, validated software upgrades for the 158 JASSMs that Lockheed will build during Lot 8 of the missile’s production run. “Flight validation of JASSM’s software enhancements continues our efforts to expand missile capability and demonstrate reliability” and “make JASSM more affordable,” stated Alan Jackson, Lockheed JASSM program director. Lockheed will begin delivering Lot 8 missiles later this year. The Air Force already has some 1,080 JASSMs in its inventory and has ordered more than 1,400—both basline and extended-range variants—in total through Lot 9.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
