Lockheed Martin and industry partner Marotta Controls, Inc., recently completed testing of the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) launcher pneumatic cooling system (PCS), a critical component in U.S. Navy rotary- and fixed-wing JAGM launchers.

"The PCS is an important element of our JAGM system, and we are pleased to announce we have completed a series of verification tests," said Hady Mourad, JAGM program director in Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control business.

"Our team has parlayed its experience providing cooling solutions to U.S. Navy weapon systems into a mature and low-risk JAGM design that is ready to enter the next phase of the program."

The PCS, a miniature compressor and air filtration system, cools JAGM's imaging infrared (I2R) sensor, enabling the aircrew to passively acquire and track targets at safe standoff range while the missile is still on the launcher, allowing it to confirm target acquisition.

It has a predictive reliability of over 10,000 hours mean time between failure, which far exceeds the 2,500 hour durability requirement.

The PCS design is based on Marotta's M-PACT (Pure Air Compression Technology) system used to cool U.S. Navy AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles. M-PACT is in full rate production at Marotta's facility in New Jersey, and the company has delivered more than 1,000 systems.

"We have leveraged our experience to deliver an efficient and cost-effective solution that will pay great dividends to the warfighter, enabling precision strike capability even in the most adverse environmental conditions," said Michael Leahan, vice president of Marotta Controls.

Lockheed Martin's cooled seeker can passively lock onto targets at significantly greater range than an uncooled seeker and offers superior target discrimination capability, especially in the high-humidity maritime environments frequented by U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aircraft.

The ability to passively launch JAGMs outside the enemy's reach allows the aircraft to move on to prosecute other targets or return to base safely.

The cooled seeker also offers cost savings over the life of the missile because its mid-wave infrared permits use of a durable hard dome that can withstand abrasion in harsh environments.