The U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin an $86.5 million contract for the first production lot of Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM) July 26, 2017, according to a company news release.
The contract will be for the first low rate initial production lot (LRIP Lot 1) of the air-launched variant of LRASM, and covers 23 missiles as well as engineering support.
“This first production lot of LRASM brings a new level of capability to both the U.S. Air Force and the Navy,” said Mike Fleming, LRASM director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “LRASM enables our warfighters to prosecute even the most advanced enemy ships.”
A moving ship target hit during LRASM testing. The missile detected, engaged and hit an unmanned 260-foot Mobile Ship Target (MST) with an inert warhead after being dropped by a B-1B bomber. Halfway to its destination, the weapon autonomously detected the moving MST and guided itself to hit the desired location on the target.
DARPA photo
The stealthy, precision-guided anti-ship missile was developed from the Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER). It is “designed to detect and destroy specific targets within groups of ships by employing advanced technologies that reduce dependence on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, network links and GPS navigation in electronic warfare environments,” according to the release.
The air-launched variant of LRASM will supply an early operational capability for the U.S. Navy’s offensive anti-surface warfare Increment I requirement. The missiles are to be integrated onboard Air Force B-1Bs in 2018 and Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in 2019.