The US is developing a missile that is 'more dangerous' than the Tomahawk.
Lockheed Martin, a US corporation and one of the giants in the security and aerospace industry, has introduced the longest-range version of its JASSM missile, which is said to be more dangerous than the Tomahawk missile.
Lockheed Martin has just unveiled the AGM-158 JASSM XR missile – the fourth-generation version of the JASSM series long-range missile.
The JASSM missile entered service with the U.S. Army nearly two decades ago and has been under development since 1995.
Currently, the giant Lockheed Martin has launched three generations, including: the AGM-158A with a range of 370 km, which took a long time to perfect due to unsuccessful testing, so the US military only received the first prototypes in 2009.
In 2014, the AGM-158A was replaced by a second version called the AGM-158B, also known as JASSM ER. This version has a range of up to 1,000 km.
The third version, the AGM-158C LRASM, differs from the JASSM ER in its guidance system and its target.
The AGM-158 JASSM XR missile is a fourth-generation version. It significantly surpasses its predecessors, especially in terms of range. However, no official data is currently available. The UK Defence Magazine notes that some military sources suggest the AGM-158 JASSM XR is comparable in power to the Tomahawk missile, with a range of up to 1,600 km. Some Western military-focused media outlets, such as American Army Certification, predict a range of up to 2,000 km.
To achieve this, analysts say the missile would need to be extended by almost 1.5 times – from 4.3 to 6.3 meters. This means more fuel would be needed. Army Certification also points out that lighter alloys, improved aerodynamics, a redesigned tail surface, and a refined propulsion system are required, but the manufacturer is keeping those details secret.
According to Lockheed Martin, a missile with a range like the AGM-158 JASSM XR would significantly expand the range of options available to the Air Force when planning combat operations. It would not only reduce the risk of aircraft damage in an attack, but also allow for fuel savings – extremely important in a potential conflict with China.
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Test launches of the AGM-158 JASSM XR are scheduled for 2025-2026. Bringing this missile into service and establishing export operations will also take time.
Furthermore, although this missile is compatible with the vast majority of US launch platforms: from F-15 and F-18 fighter jets to B-1B Lancer and F-35 bombers, it cannot be launched from the F-16 fighter jet.
However, in any case, it is unlikely that the US would "break the rules" and transfer such advanced weapons to Ukraine. Even if it did transfer advanced weapons like Abrams and F-16s, the Pentagon would only be supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces with equipment that is not the latest version.
However, the AGM-158 JASSM XR missile is likely to still play a role in the conflict in Ukraine. According to The War Zone, the main advantage of the JASSM series for Kyiv is its widespread distribution. The US has approximately 2,000 different versions of the AGM-158. Lockheed Martin is capable of producing up to 500 such missiles per year and plans to increase production to 1,100 in the near future.
