The Air Force’s JASSM cruise missile, built by Lockheed Martin, performed well in the recent series of 16 flight tests that concluded on Oct. 4 at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., according to the service. In a response to a query, Air Force spokesman Vincent King told the Daily Report Thursday that the unofficial score—since analysis is still underway—is that JASSMs were “successful” in 15 of the 16 flights. One missile “failed to detonate,” he said. All of these missiles came from production lot 7. The last four missiles in the test series were released from a B-52 bomber on Oct. 4. This test series, meant to assess JASSM’s reliability, was considered a crucial indicator of whether the Air Force would buy more of the missiles, which despite their prowess, have been plagued by reliability issues. (For more, see Reuters news wire service Oct. 7 report.)
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.