The BUFF looks to be even more formidable thanks to the JASSM-XR

a reply to: FredT
what now?
what i was pointing out
a) this thing isnt new, its been worked on on and off for close to 15 years. And yes, work went beyond 'concept studies'. The article doesnt mention any of that.
b) there is really no reason why it would have to take 5 years to get that thing into production
c) if my article is correct on some details, the fielding of the XR has some very interesting implications in another arena

a reply to: mightmight

The old XR studies from 2003-2009 are completely different than what just got funded. This is an upgrade program for existing and new-order JASSM's. The old XR studies were for a very different project that included a much larger fuselage, among other things. This is a much simpler and somewhat less ambitious adaptation that can be retrofitted to JASSMs currently in inventory.

a reply to: RadioRobert
Interesting, do you have a source for it being based on the existing JASSM fuselage?

...
A Lockheed Missiles and Fire Control spokesman said the new version is "part of a planned upgrade" of the JASSM "family of missiles" which includes the baseline AGM-158A JASSM, the AGM-158B JASSM-ER, and the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile AGM-158C...

The upgrade includes a new missile control unit computer, "which will support the other planned capabilities," the spokesman said. These include "new wing designs to increase standoff range through aerodynamic efficiency, and a new GPS unit to further advance our level of protection."
...

The Air Force was unable to comment on how many ER models might be uprated to the XR configuration or when the change would be cut in at the production line in Troy, Ala...

Announcement


Which grew out of this.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) received an Undefinitized Contracting Action for $37.7 million from the U.S. Air Force for continued development of a new wing design for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range (JASSM-ER).

The new wing design will add greater range to the cruise missile, which currently has a range of more than 500 nautical miles. Analysis on an enhanced wing design began in March 2016.

"We've developed a novel design that provides additional standoff range to further increase pilot survivability in an Anti-Access-Area Denial threat environment," said Jason Denney, program director for Long Range Strike Systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "Our customers trust our already proven design and we look forward to enhancing its capabilities for warfighters."

Which grew out of this now defunct request.


ETA:
The older projects were for a much larger and heavier missile; this is simply what can we remove and integrate into the existing ER to extend the range.

a reply to: RadioRobert
nice thanks