Italy to field JASSM-ER long-range cruise missile
Seen being dropped by an F-16 during trials, the JASSM-ER will be carried by Italy aboard its F-35 ‘and other types', according to the US DSCA. (US Air Force)
The US government has approved the sale of AGM-158B/B-2 Joint Air-To-Surface Stand-off Missile – Extended Range (JASSM-ER) weapons to Italy.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the Department of State approval for the potential sale on 5 December, saying that Italy is in line to receive 100 of the air-launched long-range cruise missiles for an estimated USD301 million.
“The proposed sale will improve Italy's capability to meet current and future threats by providing stand-off capability via advanced, long-range strike systems for employment on Italian fighter aircraft, including but not limited to [Lockheed Martin] F-35 aircraft,” the DSCA said.
The JASSM is a stealthy next-generation stand-off weapon that uses the inertial navigation system (INS)/GPS unit developed for the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Joint Stand-off Weapon (JSOW) guided bombs for their mid-course guidance, with either a high-level or low-level (down to about 1,600 ft) cruise altitude.
The terminal phase sees the JASSM fly a steep dive on to the target using an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker before the WDU-42/B (J-1000) penetration and blast fragmentation warhead detonates. The range of the JASSM is listed as an estimated 370 km, while the JASSM-ER increases this to nearly 1,000 km through the addition of a new turbofan engine and additional fuel.
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