During a recent test at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, teams from Raytheon Co and Boeing Company completed the fi rst of three government-sponsored firings of the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) system. Using laser guidance, the JAGM hit an 8 x 8 ft. target from 10 miles. JAGM features a tri-mode seeker with laser; an infrared imaging sensor; and millimeter-wave guidance system. It includes the Raytheon GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II and the Boeing Brimstone weaponry. Bob Francois, Raytheon Vice President of Advanced Missiles and Unmanned Systems, notes "This latest test demonstrates Raytheon's fully integrated tri-mode seeker is an extremely reliable and mature approach."
This was the third time the team fired the JAGM system. Two successful company-funded tests were run in April 2010. During the most recent test, all three guidance systems operated simultaneously and provided telemetry data for further analysis. Carl Avila, Director of Boeing Advanced Weapons and Missile Systems, explains "This test demonstrates that the combination of Raytheon's guidance section with Boeing's rocket motor, airframe and warhead gives the warfighter a proven, affordable, reliable and accurate solution." The JAGM provides increased lethality and cost savings than older weapons systems, such as the Hellfire.