A baseline JASSM about to impact a target during tests. The US has contracted the JASSM-ER version for three European customers. (Lockheed Martin)
The US has contracted Lockheed Martin to deliver AGM-158B-2 Joint Air-To-Surface Stand-off Missile β Extended Range (JASSM-ER) weapons to European customers.
The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced the USD3.2 billion contract in late September, finalising previously announced Foreign Military Sales (FMS) deals for Finland, the Netherlands, and Poland (as well as the US, and also Japan). The award runs through to 31 July 2032.
News of the contract follows previously announced US government approvals for the sale of 200 JASSM-ER missiles to Finland, 128 JASSM-ER missiles to the Netherlands, and 821 JASSM-ER missiles to Poland. The number of contracted missiles was not disclosed. Each of these customers will employ these missiles from their Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) combat aircraft.
The JASSM is a stealthy next-generation stand-off weapon that uses the inertial navigation system (INS)/GPS unit developed for the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Joint Stand-off Weapon (JSOW) guided bombs for their mid-course guidance, with either a high-level or low-level (down to about 1,600 ft) cruise altitude.
The terminal phase sees the JASSM fly a steep dive on to the target using an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker before the WDU-42/B (J-1000) penetration and blast fragmentation warhead detonates. The range of the JASSM is listed as an estimated 370 km, while the JASSM-ER increases this to nearly 1,000 km through the addition of a new turbofan engine and additional fuel.
For more information on the JASSM-ER, please seeAGM-158A JASSM and JASSM-ER (AGM-158B/B-2/D) .
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