U.S. Air Force B-52 Strategic bomber completed maiden release of the Joint Attack Surface Standoff Missile from its internal bay, enhancing...
U.S. Air Force B-52 Strategic bomber completed maiden release of the Joint Attack Surface Standoff Missile from its internal bay, enhancing the venerable bomber's standoff precision strike capability.
Three JASSMs were released using the new Conventional Rotary Launcher in the internal bay, replacing the legacy Common Strategic Rotary Launcher, which was only capable of carrying unguided munitions, or “dumb bombs."
Earlier, B-52 could carry up to 12 JASSMs on its wing pylons, said Jose Estrada, a weapons integration engineer with the 775th Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base.
Integration of CRL in internal weapons bay enable to carry eight more missiles, increasing the B-52’s JASSM payload by more than 60 percent. Further, the internal carriage also improve fuel efficiency as less drag is created on the aircraft.
Earl Johnson, the test project manager, said this separation test was part of the first of three phases, and primarily focused on data collection. “We accomplished fit checks, making sure the weapons had clearance, within the weapons bay, while rotating on the CRL, demonstrated a clean separation of the weapon in flight, and made sure everything was done safely,” he said.
Live weapons will be used during the second phase of tests, and the third phase will validate the CLR system’s full capability.
Produced by Lockheed Martin, the JASSM is a long-range, conventional, air-to-ground, precision standoff missile for the U.S. and allied forces, designed to destroy high-value, well-defended, fixed and relocatable targets, while JASSM’s significant standoff range keeps aircrews well out of danger from hostile air defense systems.
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| U.S. Air Force Image |
Earlier, B-52 could carry up to 12 JASSMs on its wing pylons, said Jose Estrada, a weapons integration engineer with the 775th Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base.
Integration of CRL in internal weapons bay enable to carry eight more missiles, increasing the B-52’s JASSM payload by more than 60 percent. Further, the internal carriage also improve fuel efficiency as less drag is created on the aircraft.
Earl Johnson, the test project manager, said this separation test was part of the first of three phases, and primarily focused on data collection. “We accomplished fit checks, making sure the weapons had clearance, within the weapons bay, while rotating on the CRL, demonstrated a clean separation of the weapon in flight, and made sure everything was done safely,” he said.
Live weapons will be used during the second phase of tests, and the third phase will validate the CLR system’s full capability.
Produced by Lockheed Martin, the JASSM is a long-range, conventional, air-to-ground, precision standoff missile for the U.S. and allied forces, designed to destroy high-value, well-defended, fixed and relocatable targets, while JASSM’s significant standoff range keeps aircrews well out of danger from hostile air defense systems.
