We recognised a demand from our customers for increased options to support their evolving strategic defence and mission needs. We know no problem or threat exists in a vacuum, and so we innovate with intent, keeping integration in mind and ensuring that our solutions aren’t just new – they’re immediately useful.
As part of that innovation, we want to provide our customers with FLEXible options at speed and scale in our AGM-158 cruise missile family.
Modularity at the Forefront
Our AGM-158 FLEX airframe concept is our way to provide a modular and versatile system for our current and future AGM-158 customers.
We have invested more than $35 million in designing and qualifying combat-proven Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) subsystems into a new, modular airframe concept that will allow customers to quickly integrate capabilities that fit their needs the most. The investment included concept development, airframe design, testing, prototype production and standing up key suppliers.
The FLEX Airframe Design
Our FLEX airframe solution will allow for removable nose cones that house the JASSM and Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) sensor suites and a removable boat tail that can be configured for surface, sub-surface and ground launch configurations in addition to JASSM and LRASM’s existing air-launched configuration. The air-launched configuration will be specifically designed to leverage existing compatibility with all current and future JASSM and LRASM air-launched platforms.
The FLEX airframe will also have varying sizes with a 206” extreme range option, JASSM-XR, and a 168” option consistent with JASSM-ER. The first configuration of the FLEX airframe is the JASSM-XR, part of our more than $35 million investment, which will offer significantly increased standoff attack range to the U.S. military and its allies.
Our modular design will also unlock future cost savings by giving customers the ability to change components and upgrade capabilities as needed to avoid obsolescence.
We are leveraging the best talent and design expertise from across the company, including Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control and Aeronautics Skunk Works divisions, to develop an airframe that can provide unprecedented levels of versatility for the customer.
Scalability and Producibility
AGM-158 FLEX will use the mature, world-class JASSM and LRASM production line, established supply chain, and mission planning and software infrastructure to ensure FLEX can be produced and delivered with urgency and at scale.
In 2022, we opened a new 225,000-square-foot production facility with dynamic factory model forecasting, a fully robotic paint line and more automated processes. Factories like these will empower our talented workforce to not only produce these systems more quickly but also allow them to rapidly incorporate new ideas – like FLEX – into the evolution process.
The Bottom Line
The FLEX airframe will provide a modular airframe that gets ahead of subcomponent obsolescence, provides future capability enhancements to outpace threats and enables scalability at the production factory.
AGM-158 FLEX — modular solutions for modern defence needs.
