By Olawale Abaire, Warrior Editorial Fellow
In partnership with the U.S. Navy, Lockheed Martin successfully conducted a historic Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) flight test, an exercise designed to test the weapon’s high-end lethality and firepower.
During the 12th Integrated Test Event (ITE-12), four LRASMs were simultaneously in flight, proof of the missile’s performance parameters. The successful test was a graduation exercise for the missiles’ latest configuration, laying the foundation for operational service.
Lisbeth Vogelpohl, the LRASM program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, stated, “We have continued to invest in the design and development of LRASM’s anti-surface warfare capabilities.”
The LRASM is a member of the AGM-158 family of cruise missiles. It delivers long-range, highly survivable, and lethal capability against highly defended surface combatants, a capability that no other weapon in the inventory can provide. The missile’s design incorporates advanced technologies that reduce dependence on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, network links, and GPS navigation in contested environments. This ensures that the LRASM can operate effectively even in the face of sophisticated enemy countermeasures. The LRASM sensor uses semi-autonomous guidance and target cueing data to precisely locate and attack targets, which is crucial for maintaining a strategic edge in modern warfare.
The ability to launch multiple precision-guided anti-ship missiles simultaneously enhances the U.S. Navy’s offensive capabilities, particularly in contested areas such as the South China Sea or the Taiwan Strait[13]. This capability acts as a deterrent against potential aggressors and ensures that the U.S. Navy can maintain control over critical maritime regions.
OLAWALE ABAIRE is a Warrior Editorial Fellow. He is also a researcher, writer and analyst who has written nonfiction books,
