WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 (UPI) ─ The Kongsberg-made Joint Strike Missile successfully completed a missile flight test at Hill Air Force Base.
The missile, developed specifically for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 multi-role fighter jet, was launched at an altitude of 22,000 feet from an F-16 jet over the testing area and performed several challenging maneuvers.
“This is a major accomplishment for the JSM program, and in addition several critical capabilities beyond the scope of the test were verified,” Kongsberg Defense Systems President Harald Ånnestad said in a statement. “The test demonstrates that we are on track with the qualification of JSM, which brings critical capability to F-35 and the warfighter.”
Kongsberg is collaborating with Raytheon in developing the Joint Strike Missile for the Norwegian Air Force’s new fleet of F-35s, which began production in Texas in August. The company expects to complete the qualification program for the missile in 2017, saying it will provide unmatched operational capabilities for the F-35.
“This successful flight test further validates that JSM will be an ideal solution for the medium-range anti-ship and land attack mission,” Raytheon Missile Systems vice president of air warfare systems Mike Jarrett added.
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 is intended to replace the aging fleet of F-16s, which were used to test the Joint Strike Missile.
