The Army wants responses and comments by April 30 to its draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) engineering and manufacturing development and low-rate initial production.
The next-generation missile will be carried on rotary-wing, fixed-wing and unmanned aerial system (UAS) platforms, with an expected initial operational capability in 2016. The missiles are expected to replace Hellfire II, Longbow Hellfire and Maverick missiles.
The government anticipates “a limited competition and restricted to the current JAGM System Technology Demonstration Phase Contractors,” Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Raytheon [RTN].
The final JAGM EMD LRIP RFP is expected to be issued on or before July 3.
Some 35,000 JAGM rounds are expected to be procured, though if the missile is extended to other platforms, such as the F-35 aircraft, and international platforms, the number of rounds procured could be much higher.
In 2000, JAGM replaced the Joint Common Missile program, ended due to concerns over war funding and other pressing needs.