{"id":277702,"date":"2024-09-12T20:46:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T20:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=277702"},"modified":"2024-09-13T20:24:58","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T20:24:58","slug":"marine-corps-adds-agm-158a-jassm-to-arsenal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=277702","title":{"rendered":"Marine Corps Adds AGM-158A JASSM to Arsenal"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. — <\/span><\/p>\n

Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11 and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232 became the first to conduct ordnance operations with the Marine Corps\u2019 newest F\/A-18 Hornet weapon, the AGM-158A joint air-to-surface standoff missile, during validation and verification testing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Aug. 27-28, 2024.<\/p>\n

The AGM-158A JASSM is a conventional, stealthy, air launched ground attack cruise missile with a range of 230 miles. In 2018, the United States employed the JASSM in combat for the first time, fired from U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers, destroying a Syrian chemical weapons manufacturer and proving the JASSM\u2019s effectiveness.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe integration of the AGM-158A joint air-to-surface standoff missile into the F\/A-18\u2019s arsenal significantly enhances the Hornet’s capabilities, enabling it to strike targets from well beyond the reach of enemy air defenses,\u201d said Maj. Bradley Kirby, an aviation ordnance officer with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.<\/p>\n

Marines conducted validation and verification testing by loading an AGM-158A JASSM onto an F\/A-18 assigned to VMFA-232 to evaluate the loading procedures, connecting hardware and software\u2014a required protocol before the JASSM is incorporated in the Marine Corps arsenal.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe JASSM not only surpasses the capabilities of any other weapon currently in the Hornet\u2019s extensive weapons portfolio, but also the Marine Corps at large.\u201d Maj. Bradley Kirby, 3rd MAW aviation ordnance officer<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The validation and verification process requires attention to detail and technical qualifications maintained by the MALS-11 and VMFA-232 aviation ordnance technicians. Sgt. Kaleb Bents, quality assurance safety observer (QASO) with MALS-11, supervised transportation, safe weapon handling, and inspection. Staff Sgt. Elijah Gilbert, VMFA-232 QASO then led weapon loading, software compatibility verification, arming and dearming. While this was an opportunity for junior Marines to gain exposure to the JASSM, Bents was familiar with JASSM ordnance operations, having gained experience while attending the U.S. Air Force Aviation Ordnance course.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to have as many munitions Marines participate as possible,\u201d said Staff Sgt. Holly Espinoza, munitions work center supervisor with MALS-11. \u201cIt was an excellent opportunity not only to learn about the JASSM, but also about how ordnance items are loaded onto the aircraft.\u201d<\/p>\n

MALS-11 Marines unboxed, inspected, and prepared the JASSM for transfer to VMFA-232 at the MCAS Miramar combat aircraft loading area. Marines with VMFA-232 inspected the weapon before initiating the aircraft loading sequence and post-loading checks.<\/p>\n

The Marines performed checks while the F\/A-18 was powered-on to ensure communication between the aircraft and the missile. Once complete, they reversed the process, incorporating modifications and annotations into the final instructions. These instructions will be used to develop the Marine Corps loading manual for the AGM-158A JASSM.<\/p>\n

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\n Marine Corps Adds AGM-158A JASSM to Arsenal<\/span>
\n Photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez<\/span><\/p>\n
U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11, MAG-11, load an AGM-158A joint air-to-surface standoff missile on an F\/A-18 Hornet assigned to VMFA-232 during the AGM-158A validation and verification at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Aug. 27, 2024. MALS-11 and VMFA-232 were the first Marine Corps units to conduct ordnance operations with the AGM-158A JASSM which is being incorporated into the F\/A-18 Hornet ordnance arsenal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez)<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThe JASSM validation and verification process allowed Marines to contribute valuable feedback that will inform the development of checklists to be used by both the Marine Corps and the Navy against future adversaries,\u201d said Warrant Officer Josiah Hood, ordnance officer with VMFA-232. \u201cThroughout the inspection and loading procedures, the Marines demonstrated a high level of meticulousness and attention to detail.\u201d<\/p>\n

An additional element that made the validation and verification testing notable was the use of a live AGM-158A. Typically, a training missile is used for validation and verification to avoid potential damage of a critical munition from unvalidated procedures, but there are no JASSM training missiles. The AGM-158A JASSM\u2019s advanced sensors, range, and precision-strike capabilities make it an invaluable asset reserved for operational use.<\/p>\n

As the Marine Corps tailors its advanced fighter attack aircraft, and ushers in fifth generation aircraft, it is also integrating new munitions with increased range, speed, and lethality.<\/p>\n

Marine Corps strike fighter platforms are postured to acquire long-range, maritime strike capabilities with the inclusion of the AGM-158B joint air-to-surface standoff missile extended range and AGM-158C long range anti-ship missile on the F-35B\/C weapons integration roadmap.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe JASSM not only surpasses the capabilities of any other weapon currently in the Hornet\u2019s extensive weapons portfolio, but also the Marine Corps at large,\u201d Kirby said. \u201cThis added capability will greatly increase 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing\u2019s ability to support the joint force and enable greater freedom of maneuver across all operational domains.\u201d<\/p>\n

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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. — Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11 and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232 became the first to conduct ordnance operations with the Marine Corps\u2019 newest F\/A-18 Hornet weapon, the AGM-158A joint air-to-surface standoff missile, during validation and verification testing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Aug. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":277704,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-277702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277702","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=277702"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277702\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":277705,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277702\/revisions\/277705"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/277704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=277702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=277702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=277702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}