Scheduled for completion by August 2026, the upgraded missile will likely be designated AGM-158C-3, potentially known as LRASM-ER (Extended Range). The focus of the enhancement is to extend the missile’s range using components developed for the earlier AGM-158C-1 version, incorporating technologies from the JASSM-ER cruise missiles.
Lockheed Martin’s LRASM is designed to allow U.S. and allied air forces to target enemy ships from safe distances. The missile can also be launched from Lockheed Martin’s versatile Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) aboard ships, though this application has yet to see significant market interest.
This new development is part of a broader modernization effort of the U.S. military’s anti-ship weaponry. Other components of this project include purchases of Kongsberg’s NSM missiles, offered through RTX Corporation as RGM-184A, and the RTX RGM-109 Tomahawk Block Va cruise missiles.
Currently, the AGM-158C LRASM is purchased by the U.S. Department of Defence and its first export customer, Australia, with potential interest from other nations including the UK, Singapore, Canada, and Japan. Last year alone, orders included nearly 200 missiles, with deliveries expected to continue through mid-2027. The LRASM is currently deployed on B-1B Lancer bombers and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multi-role fighters.