B-52 releases JASSM from internal bay: Success marks another 'first-ever' for AFTC

[F-22Raptor]

Team Edwards accomplished another first recently by executing a clean separation of three Joint Attack Surface Standoff Missiles, or JASSMs, from the internal weapons bay of a B-52 Stratofortress here.

The aircraft has long been capable of carrying JASSMs on its wing pylons, but this is the first time they have been successfully released from Conventional Rotary Launcher in the internal bay.

“That was a first-ever for the B-52, and is also going to be another amazing enhancement in B-52 combat capability for Global Strike,” said Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander, who flew the F-16 photo chase plane for the JASSM mission. “I got to chase the first-ever JASSM drop from the internal weapons bay of the B-52. We dropped it right here on the range at Edwards.”

The venerable bomber could carry up to 12 JASSMs on its wing pylons, said Jose Estrada, a weapons integration engineer with the 775th Test Squadron. Integration of CRL in internal weapons bay adds a capability of carrying eight more missiles in the aircraft, increasing the B-52’s JASSM payload by more than 60 percent.

The previous, or legacy, launcher used in the B-52 internal bay was the Common Strategic Rotary Launcher. This launcher was only capable of carrying unguided munitions, or “dumb bombs.”

Another advantage to carrying weapons internally was that less drag is created on the aircraft which increases fuel efficiency, said Brian Pinto, also a weapons integration engineer with the 775th.

“For long range operations, this means less drag. The aircraft can fly further and faster and still return to base after the mission,” Estrada said.

Although the release of missiles was the milestone, the missiles weren’t the main focus of the testing, Estrada said.

“The CRL is really what we’re looking at. We’ve already validated the [Joint Directed Attack Munition], now we’re working the JASSM. The next step is the [Miniature Air Launch Decoy].”

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.

The next phase – the interim phase – will include more of the same testing, but with the addition of live weapons. And the third phase will validate the CLR system’s full capability.

The JASSM is a long-range, conventional, air-to-ground, precision standoff missile for the U.S. and allied forces. According to Lockheed Martin, the weapon’s producer, it is 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.

http://www.edwards.af.mil/News/Arti...bay-success-marks-another-first-ever-for-aftc

 

[Penguin]

Interesting development for naval enthousiasts to see this missile from the B-52! Here's why:

The JASSM-ER is the basis for Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM-A), which is essentially a JASSM-ER with new seeker. In August 2015, the Navy officially designated the air-launched LRASM as the AGM-158C

The LRASM is based on the AGM-158B JASSM-ER, but incorporates a multi-mode radio frequency sensor, a new weapon data-link and altimeter, and an uprated power system. It can be directed to attack enemy ships by its launch platform, receive updates via its datalink, or use onboard sensors to find its target. LRASM will fly towards its target at medium altitude then drop to low altitude for a sea skimming approach to counter anti-missile defenses.

Although the LRASM is based on the JASSM-ER, which has a range of 500 nmi (930 km; 580 mi), the addition of the sensor and other features will somewhat decrease that range. LRASM-A has a 1,000 lb (450 kg) blast-fragmentation penetrator.

By reducing the size of its 1,000 lb (450 kg) warhead to increase range ... to 1,000 mi (1,600 km), the missile would still be powerful enough destroy or disable warships while having the reach to hit inland targets. With the proper guidance system, a single missile would increase the Navy's flexibility rather than needing two missiles specialized for different roles

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGM-158C_LRASM

Thusfar, the LRASM has been associated only with B-1B Lancer, which has the capacity to carry 24 LRASM-As. So now, we could also get 20 of these long range antiship missiles on the B-52. As of 2011, the AGM-158 JASSM cruise missile is also an upcoming standoff munition to be deployed on the B-2 (16 per aircraft in 2 internal rotary launchers).

There are 67 B-1B in US active service (with 26 more mothballed and stored). There are some 78 B-52Hs in active service. Both types will continue in service for 2 more decades at least. The USAF oiperates 21 B-2s.

While tactical air assets can also launch it (e.g. F-18E, F-35A/B/C), having both types of strategic bombers as air launch platform is a nice addition to any envisioned shiplaunched version (Mk41 VLS).