Lockheed Martin plans to conduct the first-ever sea-launched trial of its Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) next year, a company official told Breaking Defense.
The upcoming test will reportedly utilize Lockheed’s new vertical launch system called the Quad Launcher, which will allow the missiles to be fired from medium and large surface vessels.
The company recently showcased a model of a generic vessel equipped with four JAGM Quad Launchers, indicating its readiness for the much-awaited integration.
Lockheed did not provide a specific date for the planned live-fire demonstration.
If successful, the test could allow for the official integration of Quad Launchers on surface vessels to defeat maritime threats.
“We are still in the development phase of the vertical launch capability and demonstrating to [the] US [Department of Defense] is our near-term goal,” said Patrick Sweeney, Lockheed’s senior manager for international business development.
Potential Applications
The sea-launched JAGM test is part of a broader initiative to transform the munition into a multi-domain weapon system capable of addressing a wide variety of threats.
It can be used to engage uncrewed surface vessels and drones, similar to those used by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
Currently, the US Navy employs AGM-114 Longbow Hellfire missiles for targeting small surface vessels.
The existing version of the JAGM only allows for launch on aerial platforms, such as the AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter.
Lockheed plans to offer the sea-launched JAGM to the US military and the Australian Defence Force.