On March 14, the American company Lockheed Martin was awarded a new contract modification worth $122.6 million, aimed at boosting the production of the U.S. Armed Forces’ new stealth missiles, JASSM and LRASM. This was announced by the Department of Defense in its report on contracts signed up to the mentioned date.
Expanding on some relevant details, it should be noted that the funds allocated under this contract modification will be used to acquire the tools and testing equipment necessary for both projects, specifically the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) and the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM). As stated, the work will be carried out by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control at its facility in Orlando, Florida, with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, located at Eglin Air Force Base, serving as the contracting activity. Additionally, it is specified that the contract will extend until 2028, although the exact number of missiles to be produced has not been disclosed.
For now, it is also worth recalling that this is the third contract modification awarded to Lockheed Martin to expand the production of these systems, with the original contract signed in 2018. Including all agreements, the company has already received over $400 million in funding. At the same time, the U.S. Air Force not only signs contracts to acquire its own inventory of JASSM stealth missiles (having requested around 550 units for the fiscal year 2025) but also to ensure the U.S. Navy has its LRASM missiles.
Following the trail of these funds, it is essential to mention that in 2022, Lockheed Martin made significant investments to add a new 22,500-square-foot facility to its existing capabilities. According to previous statements by the company, this facility stands out for its high level of automation, particularly in its fully robotic painting area.
In addition to facility expansion efforts, the JASSM and LRASM programs have also shown significant technical progress in recent months. For instance, the U.S. Navy has successfully conducted integration tests of the LRASM system on its F-35B fighters, extending the capabilities previously evaluated for the F-35C and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft. Moreover, regarding the JASSM missile, the development of a new extended-range variant, designated JASSM-XR or AGM-158 Extreme Range, should not go unnoticed. Unveiled during the Air, Space & Cyber 2024 event, this enhanced missile would extend the original design’s range, estimated at approximately 600 miles, to 1,000 miles.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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