U.S 

The U.S. Department of Defense partners with Lockheed Martin to upgrade the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, enhancing its range and effectiveness against enemy vessels. This modernization effort underscores a broader initiative to bolster the nation's anti-ship capabilities in defense strategy.

The U.S. Department of Defense recently sealed a major deal with aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin. The aim? To upgrade the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), a critical component of the nation's defense arsenal.

This upgraded version, likely dubbed AGM-158C-3 or LRASM-ER (Extended Range), is set to be completed by August 2026. The primary focus of this enhancement is to extend the missile's range, making it even more potent in targeting enemy ships. How? By integrating technologies from the JASSM-ER cruise missiles and components from the earlier AGM-158C-1 version.

Lockheed Martin's LRASM is specifically designed to enable U.S. and allied air forces to engage enemy ships from safe distances. While the missile can already be launched from Lockheed Martin's versatile Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) aboard ships, this aspect hasn't seen significant market interest yet.

This development is part of a larger effort to modernize the U.S. military's anti-ship weaponry. Apart from the LRASM upgrade, the project includes acquiring Kongsberg's NSM missiles, marketed through RTX Corporation as RGM-184A, and the RTX RGM-109 Tomahawk Block Va cruise missiles.

Presently, the AGM-158C LRASM is procured by the U.S. Department of Defense and Australia, its first export customer. There's also growing interest from other nations like the UK, Singapore, Canada, and Japan. In the past year, orders for nearly 200 LRASM missiles were placed, with deliveries expected to continue until mid-2027. These LRASM missiles are currently deployed on B-1B Lancer bombers and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multi-role fighters.

In essence, this collaboration between the U.S. Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin represents a significant stride in bolstering the nation's defense capabilities, ensuring readiness to counter potential threats at sea.