Military Embedded Systems

U.S. Navy announces first network-enabled weapon to achieve initial operational capability

News

June 20, 2016

Mariana Iriarte

Technology Editor

Military Embedded Systems

U.S. Navy announces first network-enabled weapon to achieve initial operational capability
Photo by U.S. Navy

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. Rear Adm. DeWolfe Miller, director of Air Warfare, announced that the U.S. Navy?s first air-to-ground network-enabled weapon, Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) C-1, completed operational testing against land and sea targets, achieving Initial Operational Capability (IOC).

The JSOW C-1 - a Raytheon-built weapon- is integrated with Link 16 network radio and also uses terminal IR seeker GPS/INS for guidance. Navy officials say the weapon will be launched in F/A-18E/F and F-35A/C aircraft.

"The precision targeting of this weapon and its ability to receive real-time target updates makes it the fleet’s weapon for the fight tonight,” says Cmdr. Sam Messer, JSOW program manager. “JSOW C-1 provides the ability to engage our enemies at longer ranges and the flexibility to engage in direct attack even if enemy air defenses deny our aircraft access.”

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