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AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile
AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile
	A prototype AGM-179 JAGM
Type	Air-to-surface missile
Service history
In service	Achieved IOC March 1st 2022 with the U.S. Marine Corps
Production history
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin
Unit cost	US$319,000 (FY 2023)
Specifications
Mass	108 lb (49 kg)
Length	70 in (1,778 mm)
Diameter	7 in (178 mm)
Operational; range	5 mi (8.0 km)
Guidance; system	Semi-active laser and millimeter-wave radar
Launch; platform	Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft

The AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) is an American military program to develop an air-to-surface missile, to replace the current air-launched BGM-71 TOW, AGM-114 Hellfire, and AGM-65 Maverick missiles.^[4] The U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps plan to buy thousands of JAGMs.^[5]

Description

The Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) program is a follow-on from the unsuccessful AGM-169 Joint Common Missile program, that was cancelled due to budget cuts. JAGM will share basically the same objectives and technologies as the JCM, but will be developed over a longer time scale.^[6]

History

In June 2007, the US Defense Department released a draft request for proposals (RFP), launching a competition for the Joint Air to Ground Missile (JAGM) program.^[6] In 2008, Raytheon and Boeing teamed up on a $125 million contract,^[7]^[8] and Lockheed Martin received a $122 million technology development contract for the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) system. The 27-month contracts from the U.S. Army's Aviation and Missile Command is for a competitive risk-reduction phase.^[9]

In the spring of 2011, each team submitted its proposal, with a contract award expected in the first quarter of 2012. However, in September 2011, the Army and Navy requested the JAGM program be terminated.^[10] In 2012, the JAGM survived a budget reduction, with reduced funding.^[11]

In 2012, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon received contracts from the U.S. Army to extend the JAGM technology development program, including the design, test, and demonstration phases for the JAGM guidance section.^[12]^[13]^[14] In 2013, the Army announced it would not award Raytheon a contract for the remainder of the Technology Development (TD) phase, and will continue with Lockheed's contract.^[15] In February 2012, the Navy and Marine Corps terminated their investment in the program, saying it was a "manageable risk" to do so and that they would instead focus on the GBU-53/B StormBreaker and continued Hellfire procurement, making the JAGM an Army-only program. In March 2014, they re-entered the program, with documents showing integration of the missile onto Marine AH-1Z helicopters.^[16]

In 2015, the Army issued an RFP for a JAGM guidance section upgrade. Lockheed Martin offered its dual-mode laser and millimeter wave radar seeker, and Raytheon may submit its tri-mode seeker which adds imaging infrared if it chooses to compete.^[17] Lockheed Martin was awarded a $66 million engineering and manufacturing contract to combine its laser and millimeter wave seekers into the Hellfire Romeo missile body. Raytheon chose not to compete, but retains its tri-mode seeker should the Army request it.^[18]

The designation AGM-179 was assigned to the JAGM program.^[19] In 2018, a Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract for JAGM was approved.^[20] In early 2022, the AGM-179A achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with USMC AH-1Z helicopters, clearing the weapon for operational deployment.^[1]

In August 2022, the JAGM was declared ready for full-rate production. By February 2022, 1,000 missiles had been produced, manufacturing at the minimum sustainment rate, under low-rate production. Improvements to the JAGM are being developed, such as a medium-range variant with a range of 10 mi (16 km), without changing the missile's dimensions.^[21]

In November 2022, Lockheed Martin flight tested the JAGM-Medium Range, or JAGM-MR, which traveled 10 miles. The version incorporates a tri-mode seeker, adding an imaging sensor, which was originally a requirement for the missile but was dropped due to cost factors. It was added back in the JAGM-MR as seeker technology became more affordable. Lockheed claims the upgraded capability can be provided at a cost close to the baseline JAGM.^[22]

In June 2024, A 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit attack helicopter fired off a missile in the Pacific, striking a moving target vessel. According to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, "this EXPO strike launched the first live JAGM from an AH-1Z in the Indo-Pacific region and employed a variety of munitions against a high-speed towed target." ^[23]

Launch platforms

AH-64 Apache
MQ-1C Gray Eagle^[4]
MH-60R/S Seahawk
MH-60 Black Hawk, Direct Action Penetrator (DAP)
AH-1Z Viper^[24]
OH-58F Kiowa^{[citation needed]}
AH-6 Little Bird
MQ-9 Reaper
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
Mk 41 Vertical Launching System, with Lockheed Martin Host Extensible Launching System (ExLS)

Operators

Netherlands

Selected by the Netherlands to equip its AH-64E Apache helicopters.^[25]

Poland

Selected by Poland as part of the AH-64E Apache procurement.^[26]

United Kingdom

Selected for use on AH-64E Apache helicopters.^[27] A proposed foreign military sale of 3,000 AGM-179A Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles for $957.4 million was approved by the United States Department of State in October 2023.^[28]

United States

The JAGM was intended for joint service with the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Marine Corps by providing a single missile configuration for many platforms. JAGM offered the services increased operational flexibility and reduced logistics support costs.^[4]