Lockheed Martin's [NYSE: LMT] Joint Common Missile program successfully completed its system- level Preliminary Design Review (PDR) on June 30. The PDR culminates the design review process under Phase 1 of the System Design and Development (SDD) program and follows successful completion of 17 subsystem-level PDRs.

"With the successful Control Test Vehicle (CTV) flight and a successful system PDR, it's been a good week," said U.S. Army Col. Jody Maxwell, project manager, Joint Attack Munition Systems (JAMS) project office. "The system PDR, 14 months after contract award, was made possible by dedicated industry and government personnel. I am pleased with the independent review team's assessment that we have successfully completed system PDR for Joint Common Missile. I attribute this achievement to the professionalism and dedication of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, UK and Lockheed Martin team."

The PDR, held at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Orlando, FL, was attended by senior leaders from the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as representatives from the armed forces of the United Kingdom.

"With this PDR and our successful CTV-1 flight, we have completed all the key elements of the Phase 1 risk reduction effort," said Steve Barnoske, JCM program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

"Completion of this critical milestone validates JCM's successful performance," said Rick Edwards, vice president for Tactical Missiles for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "The JCM program is right on track as we work diligently to bring this much-needed weapon into the hands of the warfighter."

The SDD Phase 1 risk reduction program included performance testing of the new missile's critical subsystems-the tri-mode seeker, the multi-purpose warhead and the single rocket motor that provides maximum range on both rotary-and fixed-wing platforms. Following successful completion of all subsystem tests, the missile was fired June 27 in a successful CTV flight that demonstrated its ability to reach maximum range from a rotary-wing platform.

JCM has also undergone successful integration flights on the Apache helicopter and further integration onto additional rotary-wing platforms using instrumented measurement vehicles (IMVs), and integration on the fixed-wing platform continues. Earlier fitchecks and uploads, as well as wind tunnel testing for the fixed-wing platform, have been successful.

"JCM has successfully tested all critical subsystems -- both during an aggressive risk reduction program and also during Phase 1 of SDD," Edwards said. "JCM fills eight critical capability gaps identified by our Army, Navy and Marine Corps customers in the Joint Capabilities and Development System (JCIDS) process. It can be fired from rotary-and fixed-wing aircraft day and night, in all weather, in countermeasures, against all targets -- moving and stationary -- and with precision-strike lethality, from a safe stand-off range that maximizes crew survivability. JCM stops a wide range of threats, and it also minimizes collateral damage and saves innocent lives."

The JCM is the next-generation, multi-purpose, air-to-ground precision missile that will replace the Hellfire, Longbow and Maverick air-to-ground missiles currently in the U.S. arsenal. To deliver the multi-purpose warhead to its target, the Lockheed Martin JCM includes a tri-mode seeker with imaging infrared, semi-active laser and millimeter-wave radar capabilities for active minimizes collateral damage.

The JCM also has extended range for standoff engagements-16 kilometers (10 miles) for rotary-wing and 28 kilometers (17.5 miles) for fixed-wing aircraft- and maximum modularity for growth.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin