US Navy Completes First Free-Flight Test of JSOW C-1

The US Navy has completed the first free-flight test of Raytheon’s joint stand-off weapon (JSOW) C-1, the first networked air-launched, anti-ship weapon in the US armoury.

During the free-flight test, JSOW C-1, released from an F/A-18F Super Hornet, demonstrated the weapon’s ability to operate on the Link-16 network and autonomously destroy a moving maritime target.

JSOW is a family of low-cost, air-to-ground weapons that employs an integrated GPS-inertial navigation system and terminal imaging infrared seeker, guiding the weapon to the target.

US Navy JSOW deputy programme manager lieutenant commander Samuel Hanaki said that JSOW C-1 will reach initial operational capability by 2013.

“This weapon will give warfighters the needed capability to precisely engage moving ships at sea from stand-off ranges,” Hanaki added.