US Air Force Awards $51 Million For Extreme-range JASSM Cruise Missile

Lockheed Martin has been awarded the US Air Force contract worth $51 million for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extreme Range (JASSM-XR), the Department of defense announced Monday.

This contract effort includes all all-up round level systems engineering and programmatic activities to align and phase the work necessary to design, develop, integrate, test, and verify component and subsystem design changes to the JASSM-XR baseline electronics, hardware, firmware, and operational flight software.

JASSM-XR will also include preparation for final all-up round integration, system-level ground and flight testing, qualification, and incorporation into a future production baseline engineering change proposal.

This effort will concurrently mature a new missile control unit and necessary hardware and infrastructure to support future JASSM-XR production cut in.

Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2023. 

Armed with a penetrating blast-fragmentation warhead, JASSM-ER and JASSM can be used in all weather conditions. They share the same capabilities and stealth characteristics, though JASSM-ER has more than two-and-a-half times the range of JASSM for greater standoff distance. These cruise missiles also employ an infrared seeker and digital anti-jam GPS to dial into specific points on targets.