1.2 Project Context

Project	Explanation
Description	The $400 million AIR 5418 Phase 1 Follow-on Standoff Weapon (FOSOW) Project will acquire the Lockheed Martin AGM-158A-4 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and support systems, and integrate the JASSM onto the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18 A/B Hornet aircraft. The FOSOW system will increase aircraft survivability and weapon terminal effectiveness against defended targets from launch ranges in excess of those afforded using air delivered weapons currently in the ADF inventory. The FOSOW system will provide the capability to successfully, and effectively, conduct stand-off strike operations against a range of targets.
Background	Project AIR 5418 is scoped to acquire a FOSOW capability to provide Australia with the ability to conduct effective airborne precision land or littoral (maritime) strike against well-defended targets. The F/A-18 A/B Hornet aircraft was nominated as the delivery platform to carry and employ the FOSOW system. The AP-3C was nominated as the primary control platform to provide guidance to the FOSOW, if required, during flight to the target area. A Request for Proposal (RFP) was conducted in 1999 to determine what weapon solutions were available to meet Project AIR 5418 requirements. The Lockheed Martin JASSM was found to offer the best value for money solution at the culmination of the RFP. However, the project was subsequently delayed in the Defence Capability Plan, and Government First Pass approval was achieved in December 2003.
	At the direction of the Defence Capability Committee, prior to requesting Government Second Pass approval, a Request for Tender was released in December 2004 for three options to gain more reliable cost and schedule information. Lockheed Martin's JASSM was selected as the preferred option and Project AIR 5418 Phase 1 gained Second Pass Approval on 5 December 2005.
	JASSM is being procured through two contractual vehicles - a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Case with US Air Force (USAF) for the supply of the operational and test missiles, support equipment and USAF program management support; and a Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) contract with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control (LMMFC) for the supply of certification/airworthiness data, integration support, and missile capability enhancements.
	The original definitions for Initial Operational Capability (IOC) and Full Operational Capability (FOC) differentiated the capability to; a) engage fixed and relocatable land targets - IOC December 2009, and b) mobile maritime targets - FOC December 2010. The ability to achieve the mobile maritime targeting capability [also known as Maritime Interdiction (MI) or Anti-surface Warfare (ASuW)] was always identified as high risk and was noted as such in the Government approval of the AIR 5418 Phase 1 Second Pass submission. The capability requirement to engage a moving maritime target was an option under the contract. Proceeding with this option was dependent upon USAF development of an Anti-surface Warfare (ASuW) capability within a timeframe that was suitable for the Australian application. Lockheed Martin simulation studies into the missile performance in a maritime environment (funded by the AIR 5418 Phase 1 project) were completed September 2009. However, the US Government has yet to provide the USAF with funding to develop the weapon data link and associated technology required for this capability. The Defence Capability and Investment Committee (DCIC) was briefed on the status of the JASSM capability progress on 28 May 2010. The DCIC accepted the advice that an ASuW variant of JASSM was not feasible due to delays in US Government funding. Notwithstanding, Government, at Second Pass approval, noted that the JASSM system without a moving maritime target capability is still a very effective strike weapon and would be the preferred solution. Integration of JASSM onto the F/A-18 A/B Hornet is being undertaken by the US Navy (USN) Advanced Weapons Laboratory at China Lake, California, through an FMS case. The integration effort requires the inclusion of the JASSM capability into the F/A-18 A/B Hornet Operational Flight Program (OFP) software. The OFP software is the designated Hornet software that will provide JASSM functionality. Flight testing to authorise the F/A-18 A/B Hornet to carry JASSM was conducted in Australia, while the USN continues to develop the F/A-18 A/B Hornet OFP software. Once software integration efforts are complete, the F/A-18 A/B Hornet will carry the JASSM and use the USN developed OFP in respective USN and Australian test and evaluation programs. This will culminate in live missile firings, conducted in both the US and Australia in December 2010 and August 2011 respectively, to validate aircraft integration and missile capabilities.
Uniqueness	JASSM is a Military-Off-The-Shelf (MOTS) guided weapon acquisition. The Commonwealth of Australia is the first Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customer authorized by the US Department of State to purchase this product. This weapon is operated by the USAF from platforms not in the Australian inventory. Australian integration of JASSM onto the F/A-18 A/B Hornet platform is a world first. JASSM represents the longest range (greater than 300 kilometres) guided weapon to be introduced into ADF capability, and as a result poses safety challenges for test/training over Australian land ranges.
Major Challenges	As this project represents the first integration of JASSM into the F/A-18 A/B Hornet platform, anomalies discovered during the software integration process have not been experienced previously by the USN (developers of the F/A-18 A/B Hornet OFP software) or the original equipment manufacturers - Lockheed Martin. Consequently, extensive engineering effort has been required for software integration. Integrating newer weapon technology with older aircraft technology has presented many challenges; for example, host platform upgrades not required in the past are now required. Previous ADF acceptance testing (Operational Test and Evaluation) methodologies and approvals may not apply to JASSM, as the theoretical maximum distance the missile could travel exceeds Australian range boundaries. This has necessitated development of new or revised methodologies and policy. Due to the stealth characteristics of JASSM, many of the system details are highly protected by the US Government. Gaining the required design disclosure to achieve technical certification has been difficult or unachievable due to the US International Trade in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restrictions.
Current Status	Cost Performance Project AIR5418 Phase 1 is currently on track to achieve the forecast out turn. Schedule Performance Current schedule delay is due to rectification of anomalies detected during software testing of the F/A-18 A/B Hornet OFP Software. Capability Performance Successful achievement of both the US Air Force Reliability Assessment Program and a US Air Force live firing of an Australian configuration missile have improved the capability outlook. US Navy test and certification of the F/A-18 A/B 21X software, and completion of successful end-to-end testing of JASSM remain the key risks.