VIDEO: Raytheon Demo-Flies Powered JSOW: "Raytheon announced today it conducted the first free-flight test of its powered Joint Stand-Off Weapon - Extended Range (JSOW-ER) on Oct. 1. The weapon used was a JSOW modified to show an engine could be installed within the outer mould line of the basic 'truck'.
Video: Raytheon
The missile flew more than 260 miles after release from a US Navy F/A-18 over the Pacific Missile Test Range at Pt Mugu. Raytheons threshold range target was 150 miles, and its objective was 250 miles. A production JSOW-ER would have a range of 300 miles.
The demonstrator vehicle was powered by the Hamilton Sundstrand TJ150 turbojet planned for the JSOW-ER - the same engine used in Raytheons Miniature Air-Launched Decoy for the US Air Force - but with its BLU-111 warhead hollowed out to form the fuel tank. A production JSOW-ER would have a tank installed behind a smaller warhead.
JSOW-ER is not a program of record, and would be a follow-on to the unpowered, datalink-equipped JSOW C-1 now in development for the Navy - but it will be a candidate in the upcoming analysis of alternatives for an anti-surface warfare weapon to replace Harpoon. This is to begin in January and is expected to run for 18-24 months"
(Via Ares.)
