Lockheed Martin was pursuing its new derivative strike weapon and surveillance unmanned air vehicle concepts well in advance of last month’s moves by the US House Appropriations Committee to terminate $150 million in production funding for the US Air Force’s AGM-158A Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) in the fiscal year 2006 budget (Flight International, 14-20 June).
The move was based on concerns about two missile failures during the USAF’s ongoing JASSM flight test programme. However, the committee has left intact $66.9 million in funding for continued research, development and testing of the missile, a decision which Lockheed says confuses its understanding of the committee’s objectives.
The US Senate Appropriations Committee is due to consider the recommendation later this month, with a conference committee planned for August to resolve the deadlock.
The Office of the Secretary of Defense and the USAF are also working with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control to push for the continuation of funding to develop the stealthy cruise missile, says the company.
Randy Bigum, Lockheed’s vice-president strike weapons, says the JASSM programme is performing equal to or better than most comparable US missile developments, and that the company will continue “working with them [Congress] to try and address their concerns”. If spared from the cancellation threat, the USAF’s acquisition of the JASSM weapon system is expected to be worth $3.5 billion.
Source: Flight International
