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U.S. Navy: second batch of LRASM missile antishippers contracted
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
Lockheed Martin announced that a $1227 million contract was signed to deliver another batch of Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). According to the positions of the manufacturer and receiver, this weapon is to restore the United States' advantage over any potential opponent in the naval battle.
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The contract includes production and services related to support for the exploitation of this – still new in the United States Armed Forces type of arms. It will only be the second production party of missiles and according to the contract provisions they will go to the US Navy and US Air Force. "LRASM will provide revolutionary capabilities," said David Helsel, director of the LRASM program at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "The second production party will provide the ability to attack water targets both B-1B and F/A-18E/F restoring control of sea basins back to our aircraft". Aircraft of these types have just reached initial operational readiness after integration with LRASM missiles. For B-1B this was done last December, and for F/A-18E/F this is to be done in the current year. F-35 fighters are also to be integrated into the missile.
AGM-158C LRASM has a range of at least 480 km, compared to a range of 220-280 km its predecessor, AGM-84 Harpoon, and more than twice its weight, a 450-kilogram warhead. This means that one such, worth $0.8-1 million, bullet is capable of destroying or permanently disengaging even a large enemy ship. Interestingly, discussion is underway today on the reduction of LRASM's combat mass, possibly comparable to Harpoon's head and the use of the saved mass for fuel supply. This would potentially increase its range to up to 1,600 km.
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The AGM-158C LRASM missile was created as a weapon capable of independent detection, recognition and destruction of specific targets while ignoring the objectives of civilian ships. The advanced algorithms contained in it allow great independence from their own means of recognition and command, which may be disrupted by the opponent, or may be disrupted by communication with them. At the same time, the firing force of such a missile would still remain sufficient to neutralize any target. LRASM is a weapon based on the JASSM-ER "air-ground" missile with a range of 930 km, which, as the first export customer, purchased Poland. Its development is widely seen as a response to the development of the maritime power of the People's Republic of China.
Signature: Maciej Szopa.
