Update: US Air Force performs proof-of-concept that could increase JASSM capacity on F-15E

The US Air Force (USAF) on 11 May completed the Project Strike Rodeo (PSR) munitions proof-of-concept that validated loading five Lockheed Martin AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missiles (JASSMs) on a Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle, according to a service statement.

This lays the foundation for follow-on flight testing that would more than double the F-15E’s JASSM-carrying capacity. The maximum number of JASSMs that any fighter can carry is two.

An F-15E is loaded with five JASSMs at the Eglin Air Force Base in Florida on 11 May 2021 as part of Project Strike Rodeo. The JASSMs are the two weapons from the left. The most JASSMs that any USAF fighter can carry is two. (US Air Force)

This proof-of-concept performed by the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron was a grassroots initiative that started in January. A team of expert tacticians worked through a specific scenario that relied on the ability to escort a bomber loaded with stand-off munitions to a release point in a highly contested environment.

Some tacticians hypothesised that using a formation of fighters instead of a single bomber to employ the JASSM salvo could accomplish two goals: reduce the size and complexity of the strike package required to execute the mission, and distribute the mission risk across the force.

Although the idea is feasible, it was not viable based on the number of fighters required, unless a fighter could carry more JASSMs. This was the genesis of PSR.