February7, 2007:
The U.S. Navy has ordered another 376 JSOW GPS guided glide bombs, for
$269,000 each. JSOW is basically a smart bomb with wings. That enables it to
glide up to 70 kilometers from the aircraft dropping it, to a target on the
ground. Range is about 25 kilometers if dropped from low altitude. JSOW also
contains more elaborate fins and software that enables it to follow a specific
route. Like the wingless JDAM smart bomb, JSOW uses GPS and inertial guidance
(as a backup) to find its target. Like JDAM, JSOW hits within 30 feet of its
aiming point. The Air Force dropped JSOW, in favor of other guided bombs, in
2005. But the navy is more enthusiastic about the system, and there are plans
to use JSOW as an anti-radar weapon, by adding additional sensors to the
guidance system. Other guidance system enhancements can make JSOW even more
useful, and it's still half the cost of powered glide bombs like JASSM (which
the air force favors).