Published on 8 January, the pre-solicitation advised plans to negotiate a sole-source integration contract with Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control. The decision to add the AGM-158C-1 to the F-15X/EX weapon set reflects the USAF’s increasing operational focus on long range maritime strike in the Indo-Pacific.
LRASM is an air-launched, precision-guided anti-ship weapon developed in response to a US Pacific Command Urgent Operation Need statement. Derived from the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range (JASSM-ER) air-launched cruise missile, LRASM introduces a multi-mode sensor suite, a weapon data link, and enhanced digital anti-jam GPS to support precision routing, guidance and terminal homing in all weather conditions, day or night.
The LRASM sensor/seeker package uses a passive radio frequency sensor (developed by BAE Systems) for wide area target acquisition, and an imaging infrared seeker for terminal targeting. Navigation to the target is enabled by an integrated jam-resistant GPS and a navigation grade inertial measurement unit. The weapon data link allows for in-flight target updates.
The USAF was the first service to introduce LRASM to service, achieving an early operational capability (EOC) with the B-1B Lancer bomber in late 2018. LRASM has subsequently been fielded on US Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets (EOC declared in late 2019) and is completing integration on the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
NAVAIR said it intends to award Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Controls a cost-plus-fixed fee contract for integration and test support of the AGM-158C-1 missile on the F-15E/EX aircraft platform. This requirement includes integration of the AGM-158C-1 UAI interface. Alongside procurement of LRASM, the USAF has also elected to invest in the acquisition of the Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace Joint Strike Missile (JSM). Receiving the US designation AGM-184A Kraken, JSM is being acquired to fill a near-term capability gap for an internal carriage, long range precision strike capability against maritime surface and land targets in highly contested environments. Initial fielding will be on the F-35A Lightning II.
Looking to the future, NAVAIR is also working on the air-launched Hypersonic Air-Launched Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (HALO) weapon system. Intended to meet the US Navy’s Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare Increment 2 requirement, HALO has been conceived as a carrier-suitable, long-range, high-speed anti-surface weapon system. The navy wants HALO to be fielded no later than FY29 to meet Early Operational Capability (EOC) requirements and no later than FY31 to meet Initial Operational Capability (IOC) requirements.
