The United States Marine Corps has declared initial operational capability for the AGM-179A Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) on the AH-1Z Viper effective March 1, 2022.
JAGM, a joint program with the military, is a precision-guided missile that combines semi-active laser guidance and millimeter wave radar. It is an air-to-surface precision-guided munition (PGM) used on rotary-wing unmanned aircraft systems and fixed-wing platforms to destroy high-value, stationary land and sea targets. and mobile.
“IOC marks a major milestone for the JAGM program and a significant increase in capability for the AH-1Z,” said Cmdr. J. Reid Adams, Deputy Program Manager for Precision Guided Missiles. “This achievement is a true testament to the tireless efforts of so many within the DoD and our industry partners to support the warfighter.”
The JAGM program has successfully completed a period of initial operational testing and extensive evaluation with a recommendation to field the missile. AH-1Z pilots tested JAGM off the coast of Florida in November 2021 and conducted ground tests in Arizona in December 2021.
The IOC was accomplished with missiles, training and support equipment delivered to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 to support an upcoming deployment with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
“The integration of systems such as JAGM on the AH-1Z is essential to keep the platform at the cutting edge of combat capabilities,” said Colonel Vasilios Pappas, light attack/helicopter program manager USMC H-1.
JAGM brings improved lethality, operational flexibility, and a reduced logistics footprint to the H-1 platform. This is part of an effort to modernize AH-1Z and UH-1Y aircraft in line with the commander’s vision of force modernization to maintain a competitive advantage against potential adversaries.
