2016-11-05 According to an article published on November 4, 2016 by Kenji Thulowei, Public Affairs Office with the 412th Test Wing at Edwards AFB, the wing is in the process of conducting tests on the Norwegian Joint Strike missile which will eventually operate from the F-35.
One advantage of the F-35, is that a nation’s missiles integrated onto “their” F-35 is integratabtle onto every one else’s similar variant of the F-35.
The Australians and the Japanese have expressed interest in the missile as well as Raytheon planning to manufacture the missile in the United States as well.
From Norway to Australia, members from a number of allied and partner nations have come to Edwards Air Force Base to team with base units to test systems, enhance international cooperation and advance their own air force’s capabilities.
At the 416th Flight Test Squadron, a team of U.S. Air Force engineers and pilots are working with Norwegian government and industry personnel in testing the Joint Strike Missile. The JSM is designed to be carried in the F-35A’s internal weapons bay and is the only powered, anti-surface warfare missile to do so according to Norwegian officials, said James Cook, the 416th FLTS JSM program manager.
The JSM is an advanced missile made of composite materials and uses stealth technology. It has air intakes, fold-out wings and tail fins. The navigation system supports terrain-following flight and can be used against sea- and land-based targets.
Before it can be integrated with the F-35A, it is being tested on F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 416th FLTS. The F-16 provides an excellent platform to initially test the missile before it’s transferred to the fifth-generation fighter, test managers said.
“What we’re doing is conducting risk-mitigation testing with the F-16 before the JSM is integrated on the F-35,” Cook said.
All tests are conducted over the Utah Test and Training Range.
“I think it’s awesome to be a part of the next generational fighter while being in a legacy fighter combined test force. I’m excited to see the final outcome, which will be the culmination of all we’ve done here. To see it hit the target and explode the way it was planned to do,” Cook said.
Along with Cook, the JSM team consists of test pilots Maj. John Trombetta and Maj. Jameel Janjua (Royal Canadian Air Force), flight test engineers Eric Biesen and Tom Smeeks and Collin Drake, project engineer.
The JSM program at the 416th is one project that falls under the squadron’s European Participating Air Force Program, which Cook manages. The squadron conducts tests for European customers when requested.
According to Raytheon:
The Joint Strike Missile – or JSM – is a long-distance anti-ship missile designed to take on high value, heavily defended targets.
The long standoff range (distance from the aircraft to the target) ensures that the aircraft and pilots remain out of harm’s way.
JSM has sophisticated target acquisition capability that uses Autonomous Target Recognition, made possible by an imaging infrared seeker.
It is the only fifth-generation cruise missile that will be integrated on the F-35 and also available for integration on other aircraft intended for offensive anti-surface warfare (OASuW) applications.
FEATURES
- Advanced engagement planning system that exploits the geography in the area
- Accurate navigation system for flight close to terrain
- High maneuverability to allow flight planning in close vicinity to land masses
- Discriminating seeker with imaging infrared technology
- Two-way networking datalink (compliant with standard military equipment) offering target-update, retargeting and mission-abort capabilities
The Joint Strike Missile is a partnership between Raytheon Company and Norwegian defense company Kongsberg Gruppen.