
The 416th is equipped to provide flight test expertise and is adaptable to accommodate the testing of first-of-its-kind hardware and software, such as that of the Joint Strike Missile,” said Drake. Norway has been a partner in F-16 development since its inception, so it was a natural fit to work with the Norwegian Ministry of Defense to make this technology development program a reality. The 416th FLTS has a long and storied history of testing systems with our foreign partners, especially with Norway. So they were able to come here and utilize the Edwards airspace and ground test facilities for the captive carriage flight and ground testing. “The weapons ranges needed simply don’t exist in Norway. “It was an enormous milestone to release the final, all-up-round weapon.”Įdwards AFB’s airspace, personnel, assets and the American-Norway alliance make it the ideal situation to test the JSM. “The multi-national test team, including the 416th, was able to work with the weapon developer over the course of the program to improve the JSM in an incremental fashion, which has resulted in a reliable and high-performance missile system,” Drake said. All live releases of the weapon were conducted at the Utah Test and Training Range.
#Joint strike missile software
Throughout the test program, numerous software and hardware changes and updates were made.
#Joint strike missile full
The different variants proved the JSM could sustain extended periods of flight under its own power and successfully navigate over different terrain.Īll variants of the JSM were inert until the final flight test events where it actually hit a target with full mission systems software and guidance. The next several tests used a version of the JSM that still did not have a warhead, but had a live engine and navigation avionics. Testing included multiple variants of the JSM that increased in complexity and capability throughout the course of the program with the first JSM being a glide-only weapon with an active autopilot, but without a live engine, according to Drake. “It made it a lot more efficient and effective to use F-16s to be able to test mid-cycle a new type of weapon.”

“As a mature platform with certified interface standards, the F-16 makes a perfect carriage platform for weapon development while the eventual host aircraft is still under test,” said Collin Drake, 416th FLTS JSM project engineer. Norway is a partner nation in the development of the fifth-generation Joint Strike Fighter.Īs reported by Kenji Thuloweit, 412th Test Wing Public Affairs, in the article Edwards test squadron completes Joint Strike Missile test program, before proceeding with integration testing on the F-35A, the JSM was tested at Edwards AFB on F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 416th Flight Test Squadron (FLTS).

JSM-missilet er produsert av Kongsberg Gruppen og videoen er produsert av Forsvarets forskni. The missile can be employed against sea- and land-based targets. Videoen viser test av JSM mot et landml med vellykket resultat. The JSM is Norway’s advanced anti-surface warfare missile designed to be carried in the new F-35A’s internal weapons bay. Air Force (USAF) engineers, test pilots and Norwegian government and industry personnel recently completed a large phase of testing for the Joint Strike Missile (JSM).
#Joint strike missile mod
That said, Tokyo also plans to acquire the Lockheed Martin AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range (JASSM-ER) and the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) to meet a requirement for air-launched stand-off missiles for the JASDF’s multirole fighter aircraft.Ī Japanese MoD official had told Janes in January that Tokyo is looking to procure those weapon systems from the United States “as soon as possible” for fitment onto JASDF F-15J Eagle fighters to enhance the platforms’ capabilities to effectively counter attacks at longer ranges.The next step is for the Norwegians to integrate the Joint Strike Missile on to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and then on to further weapons and integration testingĪ team of U.S. It also budgeted JPY7.9 billion in FY 2019, and JPY13.6 billion in FY 2020 for JSM procurement. In fiscal year 2018 (FY 2018) Tokyo allocated JPY2.2 billion (USD20.8 million) to the JASDF for the acquisition of air-launched stand-off missiles, including JPY2.16 billion for the purchase of JSMs. The move came after Kongsberg announced in March 2019 that it had signed a contract to provide an undisclosed number of “initial” JSMs for Japan’s F-35A fighters. In November 2019 manufacturer Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace announced that it had signed a NOK450 million (USD49.2 million) follow-on contract to provide additional JSMs for the JASDF’s F-35As. The missiles, which have been designed to fit in the internal weapons bay of the F-35A, have a range of about 500 km and can thus be launched from a stand-off distance. An image provided by the Japanese MoD showing a model of the JSM.
