Lockheed Martin announced Monday that its JASSM cruise missile performed successfully in 15 of 16 recent tests shots from Air Force B-52s and F-16s at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., as officially tallied by an independent scoring board. “This successful flight test series verifies JASSM as a reliable weapon system and underscores the Air Force’s and Lockheed Martin’s commitment to the program and to the aircrews who would use these missiles,” said Alan Jackson, Lockheed’s JASSM program director. We reported that same record earlier this month, but based only on preliminary analysis. With the official score in hand, the company said the path is now cleared for the Air Force to award a production contract for Lot 8 missiles. That deal had been placed on hold pending the results of these flight tests, which assessed the reliability of Lot 7 JASSMs.
Lockheed Martin plans to enter the Advanced Tactical Trainer fray to supply the Air Force with a new jet to bridge between undergraduate flight instruction and fighter training units, but declined to say whether it will offer a T-50A derivative, a different non-developmental airplane, or a clean-sheet design. It's comments…