RAAF Is First Foreign Operator of JSOW-C

The Royal Australian Air Force launched two Raytheon Company Joint Standoff Weapon Cs from the RAAF's new F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, marking the first time a U.S. ally has operationally tested a JSOW C. This test series also marked the first time the JSOW C variant has been employed outside the continental United States.

The RAAF also has placed an order for the JSOW C-1, which is currently in production; deliveries are expected to begin in 2011. The JSOW C-1 maintains the land attack capability of JSOW C and adds a moving maritime target capability by incorporating a datalink. This enables the JSOW to receive target updates as it flies to its target.

"The successful tests are a result of the hard work and close cooperation between the U.S. Navy's JSOW program office, the RAAF and Raytheon," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile System's Air Warfare Systems' product line. "Raytheon congratulates the U.S. Navy and the RAAF on this milestone; we are pleased to be a trusted partner on this important new capability for Australia."

JSOW is a family of low-cost, air-to-ground glide weapons with a range of 70 nautical miles (80.5 statute miles) that employs an integrated GPS-inertial navigation system and terminal uncooled infrared seeker that guides the weapon to the target. The JSOW C carries a single BROACH warhead that has blast, fragmentation and penetration effects. JSOW is integrated on all variants of the F/A-18 and will be integrated on the Joint Strike Fighter.