Contributor - UK

David Donald

In early March the Lockheed Martin AGM-158C LRASM (long-range anti-ship missile) successfully completed its sixth air-launched firing trial, all of which have achieved their objectives. This test takes LRASM a step further down the path to service entry, which is scheduled for late 2018. The first operational launch platform will be the U.S. Air Force’s Boeing B-1B, with the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet intended to follow in 2019.

 


The March test involved a production-configured weapon dropped from a B-1B of the 337th Test Squadron in an end-to-end firing trial. Although this unit is tasked with operational test and evaluation, the aircraft launched from the front-line base at Dyess AFB in Texas. The weapon was released over the Point Mugu Sea Range off the California coast, navigated to the target area, and identified its intended target before guiding autonomously to a successful impact.

 


LRASM is based on the AGM-158B JASSM-ER (joint air-to-surface stand-off missile—extended range) attack weapon, and has been in development by DARPA to rapidly meet an urgent operational requirement (UOR) for an anti-ship weapon with greater autonomous targeting capability than the current AGM-84 Harpoon air-launched anti-ship missile. LRASM has been procured under the Navy’s OASuW (offensive air-to-surface warfare)/Increment I program as an uncompeted UOR. OASuW/Increment 2 is an open competition for a follow-on missile purchase, and LRASM is among the competitors.

 


LRASM is designed to transit at medium level before descending for a low-level ingress to the target area. Its guidance system includes an advanced BAE Systems radar seeker and it is intended to be capable of operating in regions where GPS and other support systems are denied. The guidance system has the ability to pick out its individual target vessel from among a fleet of ships.

 


The first air-dropped launch of a LRASM was undertaken from a B-1B on Aug. 27, 2013, the missile successfully identifying and targeting a specific ship from a group of three. LRASM can also be fired in a boosted canister from the standard Mk 41 vertical launch system installed on surface vessels. A first vertical-launched test was conducted in September 2013﻿, and two more followed at the “Desert Ship” trials establishment at White Sands, New Mexico, before the first at-sea firing was performed in July 2016.

 


Having <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2015-12-15/us-navys-new-anti-ship-missile-makes-progress">completed captive-carry trials</a>, a LRASM was fired from a Super Hornet for the first time in April 2017. Two months later Lockheed Martin received the first production contract, covering 23 missiles in the Lot 1 low-rate initial production batch.

Six of Six for LRASM as Service Entry Nears

Lockheed Martin's LRASM has achieved six back-to-back successes in flight trials as it is readied for operational carriage by the B-1B.

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