The Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) system has successfully passed its Defense Acquisition Board review and achieved milestone C, missile developer Lockheed Martin has announced.

The signed acquisition decision memorandum approves the JAGM system to enter into low-rate initial production (LRIP).

JAGM flight tests, including ten limited user test flights, were completed across the performance envelope and target requirements over a period of months leading up to the successful milestone C decision. The test results demonstrated the system’s combat effectiveness and technical maturity. Additionally, the program successfully conducted supplier and prime contractor production readiness reviews establishing the program’s readiness to move into LRIP.

The US Army and US Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a 24-month contract for the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the JAGM program which included JAGM production, test qualification and integration on the AH-64E Apache and AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters. The EMD phase also established an initial low-rate manufacturing capability in support of three follow-on LRIP options, with US Army Initial Operational Capability expected early 2019.

JAGM is a multi-sensor air-to-ground missile that is the successor to the combat proven Hellfire Romeo and Hellfire Longbow missiles. The multimode seeker combines improved semi-active laser and millimeter wave radar sensors providing precision strike and fire-and-forget capability against stationary and moving land and maritime targets in adverse weather and obscured battlefield conditions.