Teams led by Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Raytheon [RTN] submitted their Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) proposals June 6, the deadline to respond to the government’s Request for Proposals (RFP) for the next phases of the program.

Raytheon is partnered with Boeing [BA] on the program.

JAGM is to be the next-generation air-to-surface guided missile expected to replace the aging Airborne TOW, Maverick and Hellfire family of missiles for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps.

On April 13, the Army Aviation and Missile Command issued the RFP for Engineering and Manufacturing Development and Low-Rate Initial Production for the JAGM program. The contract award is expected during the fourth quarter of 2011.

The Raytheon and Boeing team enters the competition with a three-for-three record of success in the contractually required guided test vehicle flights in the technology demonstration phase. Additionally, the team in May completed a series of government tests on the ATK [ATK] rocket motor for the engineering, manufacturing and development phase.

The Raytheon-Boeing JAGM features a fully integrated tri-mode seeker that incorporates semi-active laser, uncooled imaging infrared and millimeter wave guidance. The system leverages proven components from other Raytheon and Boeing programs, including the Raytheon Small Diameter Bomb II and Boeing aircraft launchers.

Frank St. John, vice president of Tactical Missiles at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said: “Lockheed Martin’s JAGM builds on Hellfire, Longbow and Javelin, three of the most trusted precision-guided weapons on the battlefield today. Our JAGM offering will provide U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps warfighters with the next product in that line, an affordable weapon that will offer the decisive edge in combat.”

“Our proposed JAGM weapon system can provide significant performance advantages to help save warfighter lives,” St. John said. “And with hot, high-volume production lines already in place for Hellfire, Javelin and the M299 launcher family, we can provide a critically needed capability at an affordable price and with best value over program life.”

Lockheed Martin’s team includes Aerojet [GY], which will provide the rocket motor for all six threshold JAGM platforms. Marvin Engineering will supply launchers for all six threshold platforms. General Dynamics [GD] Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) will make the multi-purpose warhead with significant Hellfire commonality.

The Initial operational capability (IOC) of JAGM is 2016 for the Army AH-64D Apache helicopter, the Marines’ AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter and the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter. The IOC for the Navy’s MH-60R Seahawk armed reconnaissance helicopter, the Army’s OH-58 cockpit and sensor upgrade program for the Kiowa Warrior armed reconnaissance helicopter and the Army’s extended range multi-purpose unmanned aerial system is 2017.