US orders Lot 20 JASSM-ER missiles
JASSM-ER missile launched from an F-16 in September 2018. (Photo: USAF/Master Sgt Michael Jackson)
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control has been awarded a $97.34 million Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) contract modification from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.
The company will supply 94 Lot 20-production AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range (JASSM-ER) missiles with containers, the DoD announced on 4 November.
Work will be performed at two US locations for completion by 30 June 2026. The modification brings the cumulative value of the contract to $536.51 million.
JASSM is an air-launched, precision standoff cruise missile able to attack fixed and relocatable targets alike at ranges beyond enemy air defences. In late October 2021, Lockheed Martin received a contract modification to replace control actuation components on the AGM-158A JASSM missile.
JASSM-ER has a more fuel-efficient turbojet engine from Teledyne with greater fuel capacity, increasing the standoff range of the missile by 250% to beyond 500nmi.
Customers include the US and Poland, while Shephard understands that Finland could also receive the missile if it chooses the F-35 in the HX fighter competition.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
BAE Systems reveals new GCAP demonstrator design with plans to fly by 2027
A key part in the trinational Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), this is the first crewed supersonic aircraft demonstrator to be built and developed in the UK in more than 40 years.
-
Kratos Defense makes European CCA push with Airbus partnership
Kratos’ XQ-58A Valkyrie will be equipped with an Airbus-made mission system to be offered as a ‘European’ collaborative combat aircraft option to the German Air Force.
-
Anduril’s Barracuda-100M completes latest successful test flights
The munitions variant of the Barrauda-100 autonomous air vehicle is being tested for the US Army’s High-Speed Manoeuvrable Missile (HSMM) testbed programme, with further flight tests expected in 2026.
-
“Gloves are off” as US Defense Secretary memo calls for sweeping drone procurement reform
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has promised to usher in a new era of “military drone dominance”.
-
Norway cleared for possible $2.6 billion HH-60W helicopter FMS
The possible sale for nine HH-60W by the US government could make Norway the first Foreign Military Sale customer for the rescue and combat helicopter and add to the country’s ongoing acquisition of Sikorsky-made helicopters.
-
Bell selected over Boeing to build DARPA SPRINT X-Plane
The programme first began in 2023 with Bell and Boeing’s concepts progressing to Phase 1B, in which testing has been carried out over the last year.