ITT Exelis Receives Composite Structures Contract for the Lockheed Martin Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM®)

ITT Exelis XLS received a contract in excess of $10 million for Lot 10 production of composite missile bodies and structures for the baseline and extended-range versions of Lockheed Martin's Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). Exelis will use its composite fabrication expertise in braiding, resin transfer mold and vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding to produce the complex structures. The combination of these processes provides automated, low-cost and high-quality structural parts. Exelis has built more than 1,500 missile bodies and structures in support of the JASSM program. “We have an established relationship with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control that dates back to the inception of the JASSM program,” said Mike Blair, vice president and general manager of Exelis Aerostructures business. “This contract utilizes our breadth of composite solutions and extends our application of innovative process technologies to create greater value for our customer.” Exelis Aerostructures will perform the manufacturing work in Salt Lake City, Utah and deliveries will be completed by June 2014. JASSM is an autonomous, air-to-ground, precision-guided standoff missile designed to meet the needs of U.S. and allied warfighters. Lockheed Martin has assembled more than 1,200 JASSMs for testing and operational use toward a total objective of 4,900 missiles.