US Navy LRASM enters production

The US Navy which has long relied on the Harpoon ASM has awarded an initial production contract for the Long Range Anti Ship Missile LRASM. The ASM which is based on the AGM-158 give the USN a long range weapon to deal with enemy surface ships.It can be deployed from aircraft, the F-18 and the B-1 are the ones most often mentioned (but don't count the BUFF out yet) as well as surface combatants. Apparently you could in theory put up to 96 on a Burke class can (but why would you). Coupled with the SM-6's modifications last year this gives them 2 missiles that can hit from distance. To note however, the VLS launch was from China lake and not actually a ship so it may be limited to airborne modes for now.

While it nowhere near the range of the SS-18 or the BrahMos its still better than the Harpoon for sure. I am almost wondering if you could do sort of an ASM TOT attack? Send a few SM-6's after you launch the LRASM. As they streak in low level, perhaps you can distract the OPFOR with some high mach vampires?

Lockmart has a slick video highlighting its advanced threat mitigation, cooperative tactics, ability to function in a GPS/Comm denied environment etc. It looks like they got the same crew that did battleship to gin this one up LOL. Oh and it looks like the Iranians are the target event though the ships look more PLAN or Russian based on the CIC screen


breakingdefense.com...

a reply to: FredT


Tomahavks with a new name and a software upgrade I guess

a reply to: FredT

Just another stab in the back for any ship worth attacking. Zip those suckers along skimming the waves and a large percentage of ship defensive methods will be ineffective. Battleships and carriers are yesterday's grand weapons. Today, missiles rule.

a reply to: Spacespider

It's a huge upgrade over the Tomahawk. They won't have anti ship Tomahawks until 2021. The LRASM is capable of being released from aircraft, such as the F-18, which gives them more flexibility than a Tomahawk. It's one of the most advanced anti ship missiles out there.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Pretty sure tomahawks Can be used against ships also and lunched from bombers.

a reply to: Spacespider

they did a test of a using one to hit a ship. and it was a good demo

but as Zaph said this(LRASM) is meant for anti ship work and to be carried by smaller fighter aircraft that can be launched of a carrier

but here is a video

a reply to: Spacespider

No they can't yet. They began with an anti ship capability, but it was removed in the 90s. They're testing it again now, but it won't be operational until 2021.

The Air Force used the BGM-109, with a nuclear warhead, but it was ground launched, not air launched. There are no air launched versions of the Tomahawk.

The AGM-158 JASSM is a stealthy cruise missile, so if this is based on that I guess this thing is stealthy also. Would make it hard to pick up on radar until close, so probably very deadly.
Harpoon is getting old now, subsonic and slow and non stealthy but if enough are used on a target can still be effective. 20 or 30 Harpoons will give most ships/battlegroups/strikegroups a problem, 10 or 20 of these LRASMs will be a big problem.