JSOW Demonstrates Weapon Data Link Capability

Released on Tuesday, January 31, 2006

The US Air Force, Navy and Raytheon Company successfully demonstrated a weapon data link (WDL) and a new air-to-ground message set that will enhance the capability and utility of Raytheon's Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW).

The demonstration was a key success in the Weapon Data Link Network (WDLN) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) managed by the Air Force's Air Armament Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

The WDLN ACTD is an activity using weapons and government-provided command and control nodes designed to evaluate a standard weapons communications architecture and serve as risk reduction pathfinders for future weapon data link efforts. Raytheon is under contract with the Naval Air Systems Command to provide JSOW to the US Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. JSOW deliveries started in 1997.

Incorporating a weapon data link in the JSOW provides the capability of in-flight communications of missile health and status; receiving in-flight target updates and target deconfliction messages; transmitting weapon position up to time of impact; and communicating through direct line-of-sight.

Raytheon and the Navy are also developing a Block III variant, which will provide the warfighter with moving target capability by adding a weapons data link and other improvements.