The United States has approved a major precision-strike weapons package for Italy, opening the door for Rome to acquire up to 100 long-range Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles – Extended Range (JASSM-ER) under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
In a notification sent to the U.S. Congress on 5 December 2025, the State Department cleared a possible sale valued at an estimated 301 million dollars. The package covers one hundred AGM-158B/B-2 JASSM-ER missiles, along with associated equipment, training, and logistics support.
What Italy Is Buying
According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), Italy has formally requested 100 AGM-158B/B-2 JASSM-ER missiles. The proposed deal is not limited to the weapons themselves. It also includes classified test equipment and containers, encryption devices such as KGV-135A units, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, technical documentation, training, and U.S. government and contractor technical assistance for integration and sustainment.
The 301 million dollar price tag represents the upper ceiling for the package. As is standard in FMS cases, the final value is expected to be lower and will depend on detailed negotiations, configuration choices, and the eventual contract signed between Washington and Rome.
A New Deep-Strike Option for Italian F-35s
Italian defence sources and specialist outlets indicate that the JASSM-ER missiles are intended primarily for the Italian Air Force’s F-35 fleet, and potentially other combat aircraft in the future.
Italy operates both the F-35A and the F-35B, giving it the option to project JASSM-ER from land bases as well as potentially from the aircraft carrier Cavour and the future LHD Trieste.
Once fielded, JASSM-ER will significantly extend Italy’s ability to strike high-value, heavily defended targets from outside enemy air-defence envelopes. This capability would complement existing Italian precision-strike assets and help replace the deep-attack role historically performed by Tornado strike aircraft, which are being phased out in favour of fifth-generation platforms.
What Is JASSM-ER?
The AGM-158 JASSM family is a series of low-observable, air-launched cruise missiles developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Air Force. The extended-range variant, AGM-158B JASSM-ER, entered service in the mid-2010s and has since become one of the key long-range conventional strike weapons in the U.S. inventory.
JASSM-ER features a stealthy airframe with reduced radar cross-section, a 1,000 lb penetrating warhead (WDU-42/B), and a guidance package combining inertial navigation, GPS, and an imaging infrared seeker for high accuracy in the terminal phase. The extended-range model uses a more efficient turbofan engine and additional fuel, giving it a reported range well beyond 900 kilometres.
The latest AGM-158B-2 production variant introduces structural and electronic upgrades, including a reworked wing, improved electronics and software, and enhanced GPS protection, raising the unit cost in U.S. budgeting to roughly 1.6 million dollars per missile.
Strengthening NATO’s Southern Flank
In its justification, the DSCA states that the proposed sale will improve Italy’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a modern, long-range stand-off strike option and by enhancing interoperability with U.S. and NATO air forces.
Italy would join a growing group of European operators of the JASSM-ER family, including Poland, the Netherlands, Germany and Japan, all of which have sought the missile to bolster deterrence and extended-range strike capabilities as the security environment in Europe and the Indo-Pacific has deteriorated in recent years.
For Washington, the sale is framed as supporting U.S. foreign policy and national security by strengthening a key NATO ally on the Alliance’s southern flank. For Rome, it fits into a broader effort to modernize its air force with fifth-generation aircraft and long-range weapons, ensuring that Italian forces can contribute credibly to coalition operations and independent national missions.
Congressional Review and Contracting
The State Department’s determination and DSCA notification mark the beginning of the process. Under U.S. law, Congress has a review period, though objections are rare for close NATO allies like Italy.
If no objections are raised, U.S. and Italian officials will move into detailed negotiations over the final configuration, schedule, and pricing. A formal Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) will then be signed. Italian industry may also take part in integration, maintenance or support activities related to the F-35 fleet.
A Signal of Long-Range Deterrence
Beyond the technical and contractual details, the JASSM-ER sale carries a strategic signal. With this approval, Italy is positioning itself among the limited number of U.S. allies equipped with advanced, stealthy, long-range air-launched cruise missiles.
This highlights Rome’s intent to maintain a credible deterrence posture and a significant role in NATO operations, at a time when long-range strike capability is increasingly considered essential.
If the deal proceeds, Italian F-35s armed with JASSM-ER will give both Italy and NATO a much deeper precision-strike reach across the European and Mediterranean regions.
——— End of Article ———
