Rapid Dragon is a palletized and disposable weapons module which is airdropped in order to deploy flying munitions, typically cruise missiles , from unmodified cargo planes. Developed by the United States Air Force and Lockheed , the airdrop-rigged pallets, called "deployment boxes," provide a low cost method allowing unmodified cargo planes, such as C-130 or C-17 aircraft, to be temporarily repurposed as standoff bombers capable of mass launching any variant of long or short range AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles against land or naval targets.
75-468: The size of the deployment boxes is configurable and ranges from 4 to 45 AGM-158B JASSM-ER (extended range) cruise missiles, which can strike targets at a range of 570 to 1,200 mi (925 to 1,900 km). Large numbers of JASSM-XR (extreme range) will become available in 2024. The system has been successfully used with C-130 and C-17 cargo planes to strike both land and sea targets with armed and test version JASSM-ERs. Future development will generalize
150-490: A Turkish incursion into the region, a controversial move widely seen as a reneging of the US's alliance with the SDF in favor of NATO ally Turkey . However, by November 2019, US troops instead repositioned to eastern Syria, reinforcing their presence in the al-Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor governorates, with the subordinate mission of securing SDF-controlled oil and gas infrastructure from
225-604: A "comprehensive" strategy to counter ISIL that "in concert with coalition partners [...] will defeat ISIL and deny them safe haven". The coalition of 3 December 2014 (sixty countries) that styled itself as the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) agreed on a many-sided strategy against ISIL, including cutting off ISIL's financing and funding and exposing ISIL's true nature. As of March 2015,
300-497: A C-130 could launch 12 JASSM cruise missiles from a safe distance of 620 to 1,180 mi (1,000 to 1,900 km) from target with the use of two Rapid Dragon pallets. The larger C-17 could accommodate 5 Rapid Dragon pallets, each carrying 9 missiles for a mission, with a total payload of 45 missiles with 1,100 lb (500 kg) warheads. In a test over the Gulf of Mexico on December 16, 2021, an armed Rapid Dragon received target data from
375-413: A ceremony at Poznan AB, Poland, on 11 December 2014. The missiles are expected to enter operational service in 2017, and Poland is contemplating an additional purchase for the long-range JASSM-ER version. In December 2015 the production contract for Lot 13 was signed. The contract includes 140 JASSMs for Finland, Poland and the US, 140 JASSM-ER missiles for the US, and data, tooling and test equipment. It
450-560: A concept for a longer range version of the AGM-158 dubbed the AGM-158 XR (eXtreme Range). The AGM-158 XR is longer in order to fit more fuel. The project is currently in development and is “several years out” from fielding. It can be carried on bombers and by fighters including the F-35, F-15, and F/A-18, but due to the missile's larger size and heavier weight it cannot be carried by lighter fighters like
525-485: A covert foreign policy goal of the US government in the years leading up to the civil war, even during the period when President Barack Obama was publicly engaging with Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad . A 2006 memorandum by US diplomat William Roebuck of the embassy in Damascus stated: We believe Bashar's weaknesses are in how he chooses to react to looming issues, both perceived and real, such as...the potential threat to
600-550: A distant command and control node in flight, used the data to target its armed JASSM, was airdropped from the aircraft, and successfully deployed its payloads with the live missile destroying its naval target. The other 3 bays of the 4-pack palette had ballast rounds with the same shape and weight in order to test the system's method of preventing missile releases from conflicting with each other. To maintain consistent stability during drops, these non-munition ballast rounds will continue to be used for missions requiring fewer missiles than
675-563: A former intelligence adviser who spoke to journalist Seymour Hersh claimed the CIA had been facilitating the flow of arms from Libya to Syria in collaboration with "the UK [ United Kingdom ], Saudi Arabia and Qatar " since 2012 or 2011, the first confirmed CIA weapons arrived in Spring 2014: "There were just a handful, delivered to only one rebel group carefully vetted by the CIA". The group, Harakat Hazm , or
750-707: A low cost method of rapidly providing a surge of mass fired JASSMs using unmodified airlift assets. This is especially useful for air forces besides the USAF who do not have dedicated bombers capable of carrying large numbers of ALCMs. On 09 November 2022, Rapid Dragon was demonstrated off Norway in the Norwegian Sea at the Andøya Space Defense Range using a MC-130J Commando II from the 352nd Special Operations Wing ( 67th Special Operations Squadron ), as part of Exercise Atreus. In 2024, Lockheed Martin unveiled
825-613: A policy of open-ended American military presence in the country. In 2019, the coalition saw decisive results in its intervention against the Islamic State; the terror group lost its last remaining territory in Syria during the battle of Baghuz Fawqani and its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died during a US special forces raid in Idlib in October 2019. The Trump administration ordered all US forces to withdraw from Rojava in early October ahead of
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#1732844681729900-571: A safe distance. Similarly, the present-day Rapid Dragon launch system is intended to saturate a target's defenses from standoff weapon distances, where the launching aircraft is not threatened. It can be rapidly fielded, using existing fleets of airlift assets to offer the option of significant surges in mass attack missions at minimal cost and training. Strategically, it also allows the United States to rapidly provide strategic strike capability to any of its foreign military partners that already possess
975-492: A smart and disposable bomb bay in a box that includes an interface allowing targeting information that is gathered from allied units in the area to be fed to the munitions from a distant fire control center. The project name is derived from a tenth century Chinese volley-firing siege weapon, known as the Ji Long Che ( 疾龙车 "rapid dragon cart"), which could simultaneously launch large numbers of long range crossbow missiles from
1050-656: Is a JASSM-ER with a new seeker. The Air Force used the B-1 Lancer to complete a captive carry test of an LRASM to ensure the bomber can carry it, as both missiles use the same airframe. The LRASM was not originally planned to be deployed on the B-1, being intended solely as a technology demonstrator, but in February 2014 the Pentagon authorized the LRASM to be integrated onto air platforms, including
1125-529: Is a low detection standoff air-launched cruise missile developed by Lockheed Martin for the United States Armed Forces . It is a large, stealthy long-range weapon with a 1,000-pound (450 kg) armor piercing warhead. It completed testing and entered service with the U.S. Air Force in 2009, and has entered foreign service in Australia, Finland, and Poland as of 2014. An extended range version of
1200-626: Is able to carry 20 JASSM-ERs, 8 internally and 12 on external pylons. It is also carried on U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-35C fighters. The Air Force approved full-rate production of the JASSM-ER in December 2014. Integration of the JASSM-ER onto the B-52 and F-16 was expected to wrap up in 2018, with the F-15E completed after that; it was announced that the JASSM-ER achieved full operational capability on
1275-523: Is also researching integration of Boeing 's lower cost but shorter range (50 mi or 80 km) JDAM-ER bombs, and is working with Raytheon to support Rapid Dragon launch of ADM-160 MALD decoys. In November 2022, the first European-theater, live-fire demonstration of a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile was performed with a MC-130J at Andøya Space test range in Norway with support from Polish, Norwegian, Romanian, and British military partners for
1350-581: Is just as much a deterrent capability, as it is a strike capability. It makes the enemy pause and think twice about aggressive action, because it provides precision strike of a wide range of valuable targets. — Senior Finnish official on why Finland needed these missiles In 2013 South Korea sought the JASSM to boost the South Korean Air Force's striking capability but was refused by Washington. The South Korean government instead turned their attention towards
1425-668: Is known that even modern air defense systems struggle with defending against cruise missile barrages as seen with the 2018 Riyadh missile strike during the Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen as well as the 2018 missile strikes against Syria during the American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war . Due to the vulnerability of sophisticated air defense systems such as S-300 and S-400 to mass attacks from low flying cruise missiles, it
1500-562: Is said to be the last production lot that will include non-ER versions. Poland's first modified F-16s should be ready by 2017, when the first missiles are delivered. The work is scheduled to be complete by June 29, 2019. In November 2016, The U.S. State Department approved the possible sale of 70 AGM-158B JASSM-ER to Poland. As of March 2024, the US State Department approved a potential sale of up to 821 additional AGM-158B-2 JASSM-ER All-Up-Rounds and various additional support equipment to
1575-544: Is thought that Rapid Dragon is well suited for swarm tactics missions to suppress enemy air defenses with large numbers of JASSM-ER optionally accompanied by swarms of miniature spoofing decoy drones released from a second airdrop module. The US Air Force intends to continue live tests with C-17s, AGM-158C Long Range Anti Ship (LRASM), and 1,200 mi (1,900 km) range AGM-158D JASSM-XR which became available in low production numbers in 2021. The Air Force's Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation (SDPE) group
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#17328446817291650-799: The AGM-142 Popeye stand off missile and providing a long-range strike capability to the Hornets. JASSM was selected over the SLAM-ER after the European Taurus KEPD 350 withdrew its tender offer, despite the KEPD 350 being highly rated in the earlier RFP process, due to their heavy involvement in the series preparation for the German Air Force, their troop trials in South Africa and their final negotiations with
1725-528: The Finnish Air Force as part of modernization plans of its F/A-18 Hornet fleet. However, in February 2007 the United States declined to sell the missiles, while agreeing to proceed as planned with other modernization efforts (the so-called Mid-Life Update 2, or MLU2). However, in October 2011 the US DSCA announced that they had given permission for a possible sale to Finland. An order, valued 178.5 million Euros
1800-503: The IS insurgency and the Syrian government. On 23 November 2019, the head of US Central Command stated there was no "end date" on the US's intervention in Syria. As of February 2021, there are around 900 US soldiers operating in Syria, according to the US Department of Defense . Leaked United States diplomatic cables have been seen as showing that regime change in Syria may have been
1875-734: The Idlib Province ) [REDACTED] Ahmad Salama Mabruk † (al-Nusra senior commander) [REDACTED] Muhsin al-Fadhli † (Leader of Khorasan) [REDACTED] Sanafi al-Nasr † [REDACTED] David Drugeon † [REDACTED] Said Arif † (Jund al-Aqsa Military Chief) [REDACTED] Abu Omar al-Turkistani † (TIP and al-Nusra military commander) Coalition forces: Coalition forces-air Coalition forces-ground Local forces Syrian Arab Republic: Islamic Front : Syrian Salvation Government : Islamic State of Iraq and
1950-708: The Syrian rebels and the Kurdish -led Syrian Democratic Forces opposed to both the Islamic State and Syrian president Bashar al-Assad . Shortly after the start of the civil war in 2011, the Obama administration placed sanctions against Syria and supported the Free Syrian Army rebel faction by covertly authorizing Timber Sycamore under which the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) armed and trained rebels. Following
2025-530: The US House of Representatives voted to authorize the executive branch to overtly train and equip Syrian rebels against ISIL forces, at a cost of $ 500 million. Following the abduction of a number of foreigners in Syria, on 4 July 2014, the US carried out an operation to rescue foreign hostages being held by ISIL. US airstrikes were conducted against an ISIL military base known as the "Osama bin Laden Camp" while at
2100-736: The United States Navy had originally planned to acquire 453 AGM-158 missiles but instead pulled out of the program in favor of retaining the proven AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER . In 2006 the Australian government announced the selection of the Lockheed Martin JASSM to equip the Royal Australian Air Force 's F/A-18 Hornet fighters. This announcement came as part of a program to phase out the RAAFs F-111C strike aircraft, replacing
2175-495: The AGM-158B JASSM-ER variant. By 2023, Lockheed Martin could produce over 500 missiles total of JASSM and LRASM versions per year, with plans to increase production to 1,000 missiles annually. In 1999, powered flight tests of the missile began. These were successful, and production of the JASSM began in December 2001. The weapon began operational testing and evaluation in 2002. Late that year, two missiles failed tests and
2250-562: The AGM-158B-3 will further upgrade the GPS receiver with M-Code capabilities and the AGM-158D will enhance performance with new wing and chine designs, the integration of a line of sight and beyond line of sight Weapon Data Link (WDL) for post-launch retargeting capability, and software updates for increased survivability. The JASSM-ER is also the basis for AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, which
2325-718: The Air Force B-1, as an operational weapon to address the needs of the Navy and Air Force to have a modern anti-ship missile. In August 2015, the Navy officially designated the air-launched LRASM as AGM-158C . The LRASM achieved Early Operational Capability on the B-1B in December 2018. In 2020 and 2021, the Air Force Research Laboratory and Lockheed developed and tested Rapid Dragon, a palletized multiple AGM-158 launcher module to be airdropped by C-130 or C-17 cargo planes as
Rapid Dragon (missile system) - Misplaced Pages Continue
2400-456: The Air Force for acquisition, said that there would be a production gap for the JASSM while further tests were held. Further tests in 2009 were more successful however, with 15 out of 16 rounds hitting the intended target, well above the 75% benchmark set for the test. This cleared JASSM for entry into service. The United States Air Force plans to acquire up to 4,900 AGM-158 missiles. Meanwhile,
2475-539: The Atreus 2022 military exercise. Some of the cruise missiles compatible with Rapid Dragon can carry nuclear warheads . This could change how the terms of arms limitation treaties will need to be written or re-written. Stipulations based on the number of launch vehicles would no longer be effective if any cargo aircraft with a suitable bay could be converted into one. AGM-158 JASSM#AGM-158B JASSM-ER The AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile ( AGM-158 JASSM )
2550-729: The F-15E in February 2018. Lot 15 production contract, awarded in June 2017 was the first consisting entirely JASSM-ER. On 14 May 2015, the head of the Air Force Research Laboratory nominated the JASSM-ER as the optimal air vehicle to carry the Counter-electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project (CHAMP) payload. CHAMP is an electronic warfare technology that fries electronic equipment with bursts of high-power microwave energy, non-kinetically destroying them. The JASSM-ER
2625-645: The F-16. It is speculated that the JASSM-XR's range could be around 1,000 mi (1,600 km). The JASSM was first employed during the 14 April 2018 missile strikes against Syria during the Syrian Civil War . Two B-1 Lancers fired a total of 19 JASSMs as part of strikes against three Syrian government alleged chemical weapons targets. All 19 JASSM missiles were fired at the Barzah Research Center, which
2700-536: The F-35 will be able to carry both missiles externally, which would compromise the aircraft's stealth features. The JASSM-ER entered service with the USAF in April 2014. Although the B-1 was initially the only aircraft able to deploy it, it was later integrated onto the B-52, F-15E, and F-16; the B-1B can carry a full load of 24 JASSM-ERs, the B-2 16 missiles, and the B-52 outfitted with the 1760 Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade (IWBU)
2775-669: The IS, which was canceled in 2015 after spending $ 500 million and producing only a few dozen fighters. A simultaneous $ 1 billion covert program called Timber Sycamore conducted by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) aimed at fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was more successful, but was decimated by Russian bombing , and canceled in mid-2017 by the Trump administration . The Obama administration began surveillance missions on Islamic State positions in Syria in September 2014. On 22 September 2014,
2850-639: The Islamic State's occupation of Eastern Syria in August 2014, the United States conducted surveillance flights in Syria to gather intelligence regarding the Islamic State. In September 2014, the United States-led coalition—which involves the United Kingdom , France , Jordan , Turkey , Canada , Australia , and others—launched an air campaign against the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front inside Syria. The US missile strike on Shayrat Airbase on 7 April 2017
2925-510: The JASSM's stealthy design allows it to fly at higher altitudes to achieve long flight ranges without using up energy maneuvering around terrain obstacles. The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) has suggested lightening the warhead of the AGM-158A to increase its range. That way it would be able to be fired a greater distance from enemy air defenses while being cheaper and available in greater numbers for protracted conflicts than
3000-440: The JASSM, the JASSM-ER is intended to have a range of over 575 mi (925 km) compared to the JASSM's range of about 230 mi (370 km). Other possible improvements were studied but ultimately not pursued, including a submunition dispenser warhead, new types of homing head, and a new engine giving ranges in excess of 620 mi (1,000 km). The JASSM-ER has 70% hardware commonality and 95% software commonality with
3075-838: The Levant: al-Qaeda: [REDACTED] United States: 11 servicemen killed 18 Government contractors killed (1 non-combat) 1 V-22 Osprey crashed 5 combat drones lost [REDACTED] Jordan: 1 pilot executed 1 F-16 crashed 2 drones lost [REDACTED] United Kingdom: 1 serviceman killed 2 SAS operators wounded [REDACTED] Syrian Arab Republic: 169 soldiers and militiamen killed (per SOHR) Up to 23 Russian paramilitary forces killed (per SOHR) 3 tanks destroyed 10+ aircraft destroyed 1 SAM battery destroyed [REDACTED] Islamic Front : 3 killed (per SOHR) 10 killed (per SOHR) [REDACTED] Syrian Salvation Government : [REDACTED] Islamic State of Iraq and
Rapid Dragon (missile system) - Misplaced Pages Continue
3150-608: The Levant: At least 9,158 killed (per Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR)) [REDACTED] al-Qaeda: Foreign intervention in behalf of Syrian rebels U.S.-led intervention against ISIL On 22 September 2014, the United States officially intervened in the Syrian civil war with the stated aim of fighting the terrorist organization ISIS in support of the international war against it , code named Operation Inherent Resolve . The US currently continues to support
3225-599: The Polish Government for $ 1.77 billion. In its 2019 Mid-term Defense Program [ ja ] , the Japanese government introduced a plan to purchase JASSM-ER and the AGM-158C LRASM for use in its F-15J fleet. Acquisition of up to 50 JASSM-ER was approved by the US State Department in August 2023. On the other hand, due to the modifications plan needed for F-15Js to equip these missiles going over budget, LRASM
3300-538: The Rapid Dragon concept enables other air forces without strategic bombers but which do operate transport aircraft to mass fire JASSMs. Developed from 2020 to 2021 by a team of US Air Force development groups and industry partners, Rapid Dragon has all of its capabilities self-contained on its disposable drop pallet; allowing a standard military cargo plane to be used at any time as a standoff strategic bomber before reverting back to regular transport missions. For example,
3375-509: The Spanish Air Force which finally led to a contract. As of mid-2010 the JASSM was in production for Australia and was planned then to enter service soon. In September 2021, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that Australia would acquire the JASSM-ER for the RAAF's F/A-18F Super Hornet and F-35A fighters. Finland had also previously planned to purchase JASSM missiles for
3450-630: The Steadfast Movement, showed off the new weapons system by posting the first successful strike on YouTube in April. Another of the groups being vetted was the Islamist Army of Mujahedeen , formed in January 2014 specifically to combat ISIL. However, there were indications that the Army of Mujahedeen was still being vetted in September 2014. In addition to the covert CIA program, on 17 September 2014,
3525-5050: The Syrian civil war [REDACTED] CJTF–OIR [REDACTED] United States [REDACTED] Turkey [REDACTED] Free Syrian Army (2011–present) Supported by: Local ground forces [REDACTED] Syrian Democratic Forces [REDACTED] Syrian Arab Republic [REDACTED] Russia [REDACTED] Hezbollah [REDACTED] Iran (limited aircraft shoot-downs) Supported by: [REDACTED] Islamic Front (2013–2015) [REDACTED] Syrian Salvation Government (2017–present) [REDACTED] Islamic State [REDACTED] al-Qaeda [REDACTED] Turkistan Islamic Party [REDACTED] Joe Biden (since 20 January 2021) [REDACTED] Donald Trump (until 20 January 2021) [REDACTED] Barack Obama (until 20 January 2017) [REDACTED] Chuck Hagel (until 2015) [REDACTED] Ashton Carter (until 2017) [REDACTED] James Mattis (until 2019) [REDACTED] Patrick M. Shanahan (until 23 June 2019) [REDACTED] Mark Esper (until 9 November 2020) [REDACTED] Lloyd Austin (since 22 January 2021) [REDACTED] Mette Frederiksen (since 27 June 2019) [REDACTED] Lars Løkke Rasmussen (until 27 June 2019) [REDACTED] Helle Thorning-Schmidt [REDACTED] Dick Schoof (from 2024) [REDACTED] Mark Rutte (until 2024) [REDACTED] Keir Starmer (since 5 July 2024) [REDACTED] Rishi Sunak (until 5 July 2024) [REDACTED] Liz Truss (Until 25 October 2022) [REDACTED] Boris Johnson (until 6 September 2022) [REDACTED] Theresa May (until 24 July 2019) [REDACTED] David Cameron (until 13 July 2016) [REDACTED] Stephen Hillier [REDACTED] Anthony Albanese (since 23 May 2022) [REDACTED] Scott Morrison (until 23 May 2022) [REDACTED] Malcolm Turnbull (until 24 August 2018) [REDACTED] Tony Abbott (until 15 September 2015) [REDACTED] Trevor Jones [REDACTED] David Johnston [REDACTED] Emmanuel Macron (since 14 May 2017) [REDACTED] François Hollande (until 14 May 2017) [REDACTED] Jean-Yves Le Drian [REDACTED] Pierre de Villiers [REDACTED] King Salman [REDACTED] King Abdullah († 2015) [REDACTED] Mohammad bin Salman [REDACTED] King Mohammed VI [REDACTED] Abdelilah Benkirane [REDACTED] Bouchaib Arroub [REDACTED] Mohamed bin Zayed (since 14 May 2022) [REDACTED] Khalifa Al Nahyan (until 13 May 2022) [REDACTED] Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa [REDACTED] Tamim Al Thani [REDACTED] Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah [REDACTED] Salih Muslim Muhammad [REDACTED] Masoud Barzani [REDACTED] Olaf Scholz (until January 2022) [REDACTED] Angela Merkel (until 8 December 2021) [REDACTED] Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer [REDACTED] Volker Wieker [REDACTED] Stephen Harper (until November 2015) [REDACTED] Justin Trudeau (until February 2016) [REDACTED] Thomas J. Lawson (until February 2016) [REDACTED] Bashar al-Assad [REDACTED] Dawoud Rajiha (until 2012) [REDACTED] Fahd Jassem al-Freij (until 2018) [REDACTED] Ali Abdullah Ayyoub (until 2020) [REDACTED] Ali Mahmoud Abbas (since 2022) [REDACTED] Vladimir Putin [REDACTED] Dmitry Medvedev (until 2020) [REDACTED] Mikhail Mishustin (from 2020) [REDACTED] Sergei Shoygu [REDACTED] Valery Gerasimov [REDACTED] Viktor Bondarev [REDACTED] Sergey Rudskoy (Chief of Gen Staff. Ops. Dept.) [REDACTED] Abu Yahia al-Hamawi (Emir of Ahrar al-Sham (2015–2017)) [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Abu Jaber Shaykh (Emir of Ahrar al-Sham (2014-2015); Emir of Tahrir al-Sham (2017)) [REDACTED] Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi † (Leader) Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi † (Leader) [REDACTED] Abu Alaa Afri † (Deputy Leader of ISIL) [REDACTED] Abu Ayman al-Iraqi † (Head of Military Shura) [REDACTED] Abu Suleiman † (Replacement Military Chief) [REDACTED] Abu Omar al-Shishani † (Chief commander in Syria) [REDACTED] Abu Khayr al-Masri † (al-Qaeda deputy leader) [REDACTED] Abu Humam al-Shami (al-Nusra Military Chief and subsequent leader of Hurras al-Din) [REDACTED] Abu Mohammad al-Julani (Emir of Al-Nusra front (2012–2016)) [REDACTED] Abu Hajer al-Homsi † (top al-Nusra military commander) [REDACTED] Abu Firas al-Suri † (al-Nusra Spokesman) [REDACTED] Abu Muhammed al Ansari † (al-Nusra Emir of
3600-436: The Taurus KEPD 350 missile. In 2014, Poland requested US Congressional approval for the purchase of the AGM-158 JASSM to extend the deep penetration strike capabilities of their F-16 Block 52+ fighters. Congress approved the sale in early October, and negotiations concluded in early November 2014. Poland signed a $ 250 million contract to upgrade its F-16s and equip the jets with (AGM-158) JASSM advanced cruise missiles in
3675-414: The US, Bahrain , Jordan , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) began to attack ISIL forces inside Syria, as well as the Khorasan group in the Idlib Governorate west of Aleppo , and the al-Nusra Front around Raqqa , as part of the international military intervention against ISIL . At the direction of US President Barack Obama , the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
3750-440: The cancellation of the AGM-137 TSSAM project. The TSSAM was designed as a high precision stealthy missile for use at standoff distances, but poor management of the project resulted in rising costs. Since the requirement for such weapons still existed, the military quickly announced a follow-up project with similar goals. Initial contracts for two competing designs were awarded to Lockheed Martin and McDonnell Douglas in 1996, and
3825-411: The civil war broke out in 2011, the US initially supplied the rebels of the Free Syrian Army with non-lethal aid (e.g., food rations and pickup trucks), but quickly began providing training, money, and intelligence to selected Syrian rebel commanders. At least two US programs attempted to assist the Syrian rebels, including a 2014 Pentagon program that planned to train and equip 15,000 rebels to fight
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#17328446817293900-530: The commonplace capacity to air drop supplies from cargo planes. It also increases the amount of places that cruise missile-carrying aircraft can deploy from and complicates an adversary's attempts to cripple the operator's strike aircraft fleet by destroying their established airbases. While a B-52 Stratofortress requires a 10,000 ft (3,000 m) concrete runway to take off and land, a C-130 can operate from 3,000 ft (910 m) stretches of less developed surfaces. In addition to enhancing USAF capabilities,
3975-449: The country, including the Free Syrian Army , formed in July 2011 by officers who defected from the Syrian Armed Forces . In 2012, the al-Nusra Front was established by the Islamic State of Iraq as the official branch of al-Qaeda in Syria . The al-Nusra Front was eclipsed by its own creator, and al-Qaeda severed its ties to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in February 2014, after an eight-month power struggle. Shortly after
4050-450: The inner circle. According to Seymour Hersh and activist Robert Naiman , Roebuck, who went on to be charge d'affairs of the Libyan embassy under Obama, also considered the advantages of promoting religious sectarianism in Syria . Following the start of the Arab Spring in 2011, protests in Syria against the Assad regime were violently suppressed and a civil war began. By 2012 there were several armed opposition groups operating in
4125-542: The missile designations AGM-158A and AGM-159A were allocated to the two weapons. Lockheed Martin's AGM-158A won and a contract for further development was awarded in 1998. The AGM-158A is powered by a Teledyne CAE J402 turbojet . Before launch the wings are folded to reduce size. Upon launch the wings deploy automatically. There is a single vertical tail. Guidance is via inertial navigation with global positioning system updates. An imaging infrared seeker provides target recognition and terminal homing. A data link allows
4200-410: The missile to transmit its location and status during flight, allowing improved bomb damage assessment. The warhead is a WDU-42/B 1,000 lb (450 kg) penetrator. The JASSM may be carried by a wide range of aircraft: the F-15E ; F-16 ; F/A-18 ; F-35 ; B-1B ; B-2 ; and B-52 are all intended to carry the weapon. Unlike typical cruise missiles, which fly close to the ground to avoid detection,
4275-450: The missile, the AGM-158B JASSM-ER (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range), entered service in 2014 as well as an anti-ship derivative, the AGM-158C LRASM (Long Range Anti-Ship Missile) in 2018. By September 2016, Lockheed Martin had delivered 2,000 total JASSMs comprising both variants to the USAF. In August 2024 the US was reportedly considering supplying JASSM missiles to Ukraine. The JASSM project began in 1995 after
4350-594: The mission. In the aftermath of the rescue mission, and purportedly as a response to airstrikes in Iraq , ISIL beheaded three hostages over a one-month period: Americans James Foley and Steven Sotloff on 19 August and 2 September, respectively, and Briton David Haines on 13 September. On 26 August 2014, the US began conducting overt surveillance flights , including drones , over Syria to gather intelligence on ISIL targets. The flights began gathering intelligence that would aid future airstrikes even though airstrikes were not yet authorized at that point. No approval
4425-444: The module's full capacity. The cargo plane, an MC-130 J, was flown by an Air Force Special Operations Command operational flight crew and carried a 4-pack version of the Rapid Dragon missile module. The airdrop crew treated the load as a standard supply drop with the pallet's Rapid Dragon's control unit autonomously receiving command and control data to be used for programming the JASSM's targeting data. Based on prior conflicts, it
4500-404: The original AGM-158 JASSM. The first flight test of the JASSM-ER occurred on May 18, 2006 when a missile was launched from a U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico . The initial platform for the JASSM-ER is the B-1. While both the original JASSM and the JASSM-ER are several inches too long to be carried in the internal weapons bay of the F-35 Lightning II ,
4575-534: The project was delayed for three months before completing development in April 2003. Two more launches failed, this time as a result of launcher and engine problems. In July 2007, a $ 68 million program to improve JASSM reliability and recertify the missile was approved by the Pentagon . A decision on whether to continue with the program was deferred until spring 2008. Lockheed agreed to fix the missiles at its own cost and tightened up its manufacturing processes. On 27 August 2009, David Van Buren, assistant secretary of
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#17328446817294650-557: The regime from the increasing presence of transiting Islamist extremists. This cable summarizes our assessment of these vulnerabilities and suggests that there may be actions, statements and signals that the USG can send that will improve the likelihood of such opportunities arising. These proposals will need to be fleshed out and converted into real actions and we need to be ready to move quickly to take advantage of such opportunities. Many of our suggestions underline using Public Diplomacy and more indirect means to send messages that influence
4725-462: The same time, two dozen US special forces soldiers parachuted from helicopters near an ISIL-held building, thought to be for high-value prisoners. No prisoners were found in the building and the soldiers were quickly engaged by ISIL forces dispatched from Raqqa , which started a three-hour firefight. US forces concluded that the hostages were no longer at the site and abandoned the rescue attempt. At least five ISIL fighters were killed and one US soldier
4800-408: The system beyond the AGM-158 missile family to include JDAM bombs, sea mines, drones, and other missile systems as well as integrating the launch system into use on other supporting cargo and non-cargo aircraft. The current version uses unmodified cargo aircraft while missile deployment requires no additional crew skills beyond those for airdrops of supplies or vehicles. The system can be thought of as
4875-438: The then-leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terror organization, a number of AGM-158B missiles were used to completely level the compound where the raid took place, marking the second time the missile has been used in combat. American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war [REDACTED] Top: Territorial map of the Syrian civil war in September 2014 Bottom: Current territorial map of
4950-415: The withdrawal of the 2,000–2,500 US ground troops in Syria at the time, which was to be completed in 2019. With proliferating concerns over a potential power vacuum, the US announced on 22 February 2019 that instead of a total withdrawal, a contingency force of around 400 US troops would remain garrisoned in Syria indefinitely, and that their withdrawal would be gradual and conditions-based, returning to
5025-407: Was awarded for low-rate initial production of the AGM-158B-2 as part of Lot 19 with deliveries beginning in 2024. The AGM-158B-2 features a wing restructure, a new missile control unit, code rewritten in C++ , a different paint coating, an electronic safe and arm fuse, secure GPS receiver, and program protection requirements at a unit cost of $ 1.6 million. Future variants are also under development,
5100-405: Was chosen because it is an operational system, so CHAMP is to be miniaturized into the operationally relevant system. In November 2019, the Air Force retired the AGM-86C/D air-launched cruise missile, a conventional warhead-equipped version of the nuclear-tipped ALCM, with its role replaced by the JASSM-ER. In 2021 AGM-158A procurement was concluded in lot 16. Additionally in 2021 a contract
5175-457: Was destroyed in the strike. According to Russian state media, two missiles that failed to detonate were found by the Syrian Arab Army and transferred to Russia on 18 April for study – no evidence of this claim has been provided; initial reports had stated JASSM-ER missiles were used, but it was later clarified that baseline JASSM models were employed. On 27 October 2019, at the end of the Barisha raid to capture or kill Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi ,
5250-414: Was dropped in 2021 in favor of the improved version (in development) of their home-made Type 12 surface-to-ship missile . The US Air Force studied various improvements to the AGM-158, resulting in the development of the JASSM-Extended Range (JASSM-ER), which received the designation AGM-158B in 2002. Using a more efficient engine and larger fuel volume in an airframe with the same external dimensions as
5325-450: Was placed in March 2012. In 2014 it was reported that Lockheed had "received three Finnish integration-related contracts since 2012". In 2020 Finland decided to procure 200 JASSM-ER missiles. Finland's integration work was originally scheduled to be completed by the end of 2016, but didn't complete until March 2018 when Finnish F/A-18 Hornets successfully test fired two JASSM missiles at Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake. JASSM
5400-421: Was put in charge of operations worth about $ 1 billion annually to arm anti-government forces in Syria, an operation which formally began in 2013, more than two years after the start of the civil war in 2011. Prior to 2013, the CIA only supplied certain rebel groups of the Free Syrian Army with non-lethal aid, but later began providing training, funding, and intelligence to selected rebel commanders. Although
5475-688: Was sought from the Assad government for flights entering Syrian airspace. The United States had since 2014 led efforts to establish a global coalition to counter ISIL. On 5 September, 15 September and 3 December 2014, various sets of countries came together to discuss concerted action against ISIL. Present at all three meetings were the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Turkey and Denmark . The coalition of 5 September (10 countries) decided to support anti-ISIL forces in Iraq and Syria. On 10 September 2014, US president Barack Obama announced
5550-812: Was the first time the US deliberately attacked Syrian government forces during the war, and marked the start of a series of direct military actions by US forces against the Syrian government and its allies via airstrikes and aircraft shoot-downs, mainly in defense of either the Syrian Democratic Forces or the Syrian Free Army opposition group based in al-Tanf . In mid-January 2018, the Trump administration indicated its intention to maintain an open-ended military presence in Syria to accomplish US political objectives, including countering Iranian influence and ousting Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. However, on 19 December, President Trump unilaterally ordered
5625-413: Was wounded. Jordanian forces were also reportedly involved in the operation, with one Jordanian soldier reportedly wounded, but Jordanian involvement was not confirmed. Later on, it was reported that the hostages had been moved 24 hours before the attempted rescue. Following the mission, it remained unclear whether the operation failed due to bad intelligence or whether ISIL forces were alerted in advance of
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