The manufacturer Lockheed Martin has presented this Monday the latest version of its cruise missile AGM-158 JASSMalso called JASSM XRinitials of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile eXtreme Range or Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile of Extreme Range. This new long-range weapon, which has been revealed at the Air and Space Force Association Air, Space and Cybersecurity Conference in Washington, it outperforms previous variants and is designed to maintain the stealth and precision strike capabilities of the JASSM missiles, offering a range greater than that of the current JASSM-ERER for Extended Range.
Until now, there were three versions of AGM-158 missiles: the AGM-158A JASSMthe standard air-to-surface version; AGM-158B JASSM-ERthe long-range air-to-surface version; and the AGM-158C LRASMLong Range Anti-Ship Missile or Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, an anti-ship variant deployable in air-to-sea or sea-to-sea operations using Mk 41 VLS vertical launch silos.
The AGM-158 XR aims to further extend the range that these missiles can have, a fact that has not yet been revealed by the manufacturer, but which could be around 1,600 kilometersaccording to The War Zone, similar to that of missiles Tomahawk and far exceeding the 925 kilometers of the AGM-158B JASSM-ER.
Jon Hillvice president and general manager of Air Dominance and Missile Strike Weapons and Fire Control at Lockheed Martin, explained that the JASSM XR is designed to be the next iteration of the JASSM-D and LRASM-C3, which are currently under contract with the Air Force and Navy.
Hill points out that The XR leverages existing JASSM and LRASM production lines and designs: ‘We see the XR as an extreme range missile. What it really does is extend the existing family of JASSM and LRASM to allowing us to carry more fuel, which gives us the range we need and that the warfighters require.‘.
The JASSM XR maintains the same 453 kg warhead than JASSM-ER and structural changes have been made based on the JASSM-ER and LRASM models. The missile is longer, allowing it to carry more fuel and thus increase its range.. Other potential improvements could include the use of lighter alloys, aerodynamic improvements, a redesigned structure, modified fins or a more efficient propulsion system. Despite these changes, the goal was reuse as much technology and components as possible from current missile production.
The new missile features the characteristic trapezoidal cross section of its predecessors, as well as new sensors and avionics systems. Like the LRASM, it also features a data link that allows the coordination of missile swarms. Additionally, it is designed in a modular manner, making it easy to customize the missile for specific missions or upgrade it over time.
The increased reach allows deploy the JASSM XR from a greater distance and carry out attacks on more distant targets while the troops remain out of range of enemy air defense systems.
Howeverthe increase in the missile’s overall weight prevents certain fighter aircraft, such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon, from being able to equip it. Instead, the F/A-18 is already supported and is expected to F-35 Lightning II it will be in the near future, along with the F-15 Eagle. Although there is no specific information about strategic bombers, Lockheed Martin’s presentation video shows the B-1B Lancer. Other bombers that could be armed with it are the B-52H Stratofortress, B-2A Spirit and B-21 Raider of the US Air Force
The JASSM XR is not yet in service, with First prototype flight planned for 2025 or 2026. No orders have been placed by the US Air Force or Navy, and all development is funded by Lockheed Martin. During the conference, Jon Hill explained that the AGM-158 XR is being proactively developed to meet future U.S. requirements
Details are limited, other than confirmation of an elongated fuselage. The fact that the JASSM XR cannot be carried by the F-16, due to its weight exceeding the F-16’s 2-ton internal capacity, highlights the increase in the mass of the missile.
According to Michael Rothsteinvice president of Missile Strategy and Requirements and Fire Control at Lockheed Martin, some engineering changes were implemented, involving minor internal modifications but clever in achieving missile lengthening: ‘It’s not just about stretching it. There are other structural changes we will make to achieve this.. But, in general terms, they are not important modifications beyond the lengthening.’