Next-generation Sidewinder and Joint Stand-Off Weapon could be choice of Canada and European customers
The US Navy believes its newAIM-9X next-generation Sidewinder and AGM-154 Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW), both produced by Raytheon, could secure their first export customers this year. European Lockheed Martin F-16 operators Denmark and Norway, and Boeing F/A-18 operator Switzerland, are expected to select new short-range air-to-air missiles this year, while Canada is considering JSOW for its F/A-18s.
Raytheon will deliver the first production AIM-9Xs to the US Air Force and Navy next month, a year before the high off-bore sight missile is declared operational on the Boeing F-15C and F/A-18C/D, said navy programme manager Capt Dave Venlet at the Navy League meeting in Washington last week. But it is not scheduled to become operational on the F-16 until 2006, when the M4 mission-computer software update is fielded.
The navy is proposing the USAF and other operators arm their F-16s with the AIM-9X ahead of the M4 tape becoming available. This would restrict the missile to existing AIM-9M acquisition modes, says Venlet, but would allow operators to take advantage of the imaging-infrared seeker's greater counter-countermeasures capability and wider look angle once locked-on. A demonstration has been conducted on a US Air National Guard F-16, he says.
Venlet says nine countries have been briefed on the weapon, including Belgium, Canada, Finland, the Netherlands and South Korea, "with two more coming".
Navy JSOW programme manager Capt Bob Wirt says Canada could make a decision in the next few months. Australia and several European and Middle Eastern countries have also been briefed on the glide weapon, which is already cleared on the F-16 and F/A-18. The bomblet-dispensing AGM-154A is in production, the anti-armour JSOW-B is entering operational evaluation and the hard-target penetrating JSOW-C is in development.
Lockheed Martin, meanwhile, is working to obtain further export licences for the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) beyond initial international customer Australia. The US Navy has rejoined the programme and will fund integration of the cruise missile on to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet beginning next year. Procurement of at least 500 weapons is to begin in 2007. The USAF plans to buy 3,700 missiles, including a number of extended-range JASSM-ERs.
Greg Howard, Lockheed Martin director, strike weapons business development, says European F-16 operators and South Korea are interested in the basic JASSM, which has a range exceeding 400km (210nm) carrying a 450kg (1,000lb) unitary warhead. The weapon is to become operational on USAF F-16s next year.
Source: Flight International
