AGM-169 JCM | |
---|---|
Type | Tactical air-to-surface missile |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
Specifications | |
Weight | 49 kg (108 lb) |
Length | 1.775 m (5 ft 10 in) |
Diameter | 0.178 m (7 in) |
Warhead | Multi-purpose shaped charge/blast fragmentation |
Detonation
mechanism |
N/A |
|
|
Engine | Solid-fueled rocket motor |
Wingspan | 0.325 m (12¾ in |
Operational
range |
> 28 km |
Flight altitude | N/A |
Guidance
system |
Semi-active laser guidance, imaging infrared and millimeter wave active radar homing |
Launch
platform |
Aircraft: AH-64 Apache, F/A-18E/F , F-16, F-15E, F-35, A-10, AH-1 Cobra, and others |
The AGM-169 Joint Common Missile (JCM) was a tactical air-to-surface missile developed by the Lockheed Martin corporation for the United States military aircraft, such as attack and utility helicopters, strike fighters and fighter-bombers.
The missile was designed to replace the AGM-114 Hellfire and AGM-65 Maverick. Its seeker head used a combination of semi-active laser, millimeter wave, and IR guidance similar to that found on the FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile. This allows the missile to have a greater fire and forget capability and to operate off all current air platforms. The missile has longer range, a more potent warhead, and a "safing" system, allowing naval aircraft to return to ship without jettisoning the munitions.
This missile also shares similarities to the MBDA Brimstone missile.
The development of the missile was first halted in December 2004. The program was on schedule and within its budget at that time, according to Lockheed Martin. However, due to the constraints of the war in Iraq, funding was cut. In 2005 and 2006, Congress began looking into reviving the program when it was found that modernizing the Hellfire would yield higher costs and reduced capability.
The JCM has been test flown on the AH-64D in a captive test configuration.
In May 2007 the U.S. Army formally brought the program to a close and requested that Lockheed Martin cease all development work. It is expected that a follow on program, the Joint Air to Ground Missile (JAGM) will be opened to competitive tender.