The USAF has budgeted more than US$950m (A$1.07bn) through to 2015 to continue its acquisition of Lockheed Martin AGM-158 JASSM missiles.
The move comes after a successful round of tests late last year in which the weapon achieved 15 hits in 16 test firings. The tests were conducted after earlier tests revealed flaws in the missile’s guidance unit and a halt to the program to allow for a redesign.
“We believe we are getting the program back on track, so we are confident enough to put the money into it,” said Lieutenant General Mark Shackelford, the USAF’s weapons buyer told Bloomberg.
The RAAF expects to declare an initial operational capability with JASSM on its F/A-18A/B Hornet fleet later this year.
