CALIFORNIA, — U.S. defense company Zone 5 Technologies has demonstrated a ground-launched version of its AGM-188A Rusty Dagger cruise missile, introducing a new configuration designated Block 40. The upgraded variant adds ground and sea launch capabilities to a missile previously designed primarily for aircraft deployment.
The new configuration was revealed through images shared with defense publication The War Zone on October 22. The missile was developed under the U.S. Air Force’s Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) program, which focuses on affordable, mass-producible cruise missiles, initially to meet Ukraine’s requirements.
Block 40 Adds Ground and Sea Launch Capabilities
The main change in the Block 40 configuration is the addition of a solid-fuel rocket booster at the rear of the missile. This allows it to launch from ground-based and sea-based platforms while retaining its ability to be deployed from aircraft.
Zone 5 has confirmed that the missile is certified for four fighter types, including the F-16. It can also be launched from special pallets carried by military transport aircraft.
The upgraded missile can carry warheads weighing 100 to 250 pounds (approximately 45 to 113 kg), compared with the previously stated maximum of about 45 kg. Visible changes include more rounded tail stabilizers, while further design modifications have not been publicly detailed.
An autonomous visual navigation system was previously announced for the Rusty Dagger, but its integration into the earlier Block 20 version was not confirmed. It remains unclear whether Block 40 introduces this capability.
Range Depends on Launch Conditions
The AGM-188A Rusty Dagger has a reported maximum range of approximately 930 kilometers under favorable conditions, including a high-speed, high-altitude aircraft launch and a lighter warhead.
For low-altitude aerial launches, the previously reported range is up to 300 nautical miles, or approximately 555 kilometers. The ground-launched Block 40 is expected to have a shorter range than the maximum air-launched configuration because it must use its booster to reach cruising conditions. However, the company has not released exact range figures for the new variant.
Ukraine Deployment and Production Expansion
The Rusty Dagger was developed under the ERAM program primarily to meet Ukraine’s needs. Deliveries under the program were scheduled to begin in October 2026, although the extent of completed deliveries has not been confirmed.
Russian forces have reportedly recovered debris matching the missile following precision strikes in Ukraine. Zone 5 has acknowledged the weapon’s deployment and stated that the Rusty Dagger is the only publicly reported operational missile of its class in service with Ukrainian forces.
Zone 5 says it developed the surface-launch configuration in less than three months, moving from design to demonstration. The company has also confirmed that versions of the missile have been selected for separate U.S. Army and U.S. Navy programs focused on affordable strike weapons.
Production is expanding at facilities in California and Texas, with additional capacity planned in Ohio. Each facility is designed to support annual production of more than 2,500 missiles by the end of 2027, according to the company.
The Block 40 demonstration expands the Rusty Dagger’s launch options beyond aircraft, potentially allowing the missile to be deployed from land and sea platforms. Further details about testing, performance and future deliveries of the new configuration have not been publicly disclosed.
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