Brand new footage: Recent US Defence flight trial of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile. A simulated cave is the target. Imagery supplied by Lockheed Martin. Video clip: US Defence flight trials for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile. Imagery supplied by Lockheed Martin.

JASSM is designed to engage high-value, well-defended, hardened targets through precision accuracy, low observability and a highly effective penetrator warhead.

JASSM’s significant standoff range will enable aircrews to conduct strike missions from outside the engagement ranges of hostile air defence systems likely to be encountered in the foreseeable future. The missile's mission effectiveness against specific targets has been assessed by Lockheed Martin as approaching single-missile target kill capability.

The ADF plans to fit JASSM to Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornet fighters. Its acquisition will ensure that Australia retains its strike capability into the future, following the withdrawal of the F-111 aircraft. Additionally, when the F/A-18 is withdrawn from service, the missile has the potential to be fitted to future air platforms, including the Joint Strike Fighter.

The AIR 5418 project follows the acquisition of the medium-range, imaging seeker AGM-142E missile for the F-111 under Project AIR 5398 Stand Off Weapon.