LRASM
Long Range Anti-Ship Missile
Long Range Anti-Ship Missile is an advanced stealthy cruise missile designed to autonomously detect, classify, and engage enemy warships at standoff distances without relying on external targeting data.
The Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) is a precision-guided, stealthy anti-ship cruise missile derived from the JASSM-ER airframe. Developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Navy and Air Force, the AGM-158C LRASM is designed to operate in GPS-denied and electromagnetically contested environments, using a multi-mode sensor suite to autonomously find and engage high-value naval targets without external cueing.
What distinguishes LRASM from earlier anti-ship missiles is its autonomy and survivability. The missile uses a combination of onboard sensors, including a passive RF sensor, an imaging infrared seeker, and a weapon datalink, to navigate around threats, identify specific ship types, and strike designated targets. Its stealthy airframe, derived from the proven JASSM design, reduces the probability of detection by enemy air defenses.
LRASM fills a critical gap in the U.S. military's anti-ship capability that emerged after the retirement of the AGM-84 Harpoon's successor programs. It can be launched from F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, B-1B Lancers, and surface ship VLS cells, giving both the Navy and Air Force a credible long-range anti-ship weapon to counter the growing threat posed by adversary naval forces.
Related Terms
Anti-Ship Missile
A guided weapon designed to strike and damage or sink naval vessels, using radar, infrared, or satellite guidance to find and engage targets at sea.
Cruise Missile
A guided weapon that uses aerodynamic lift and a jet engine to fly at low altitude over long distances, navigating autonomously to its target with high precision.
VLS(Vertical Launch System)
Vertical Launch System is a shipboard missile launcher that stores and fires missiles from vertical cells below deck, enabling rapid salvo fire of multiple missile types from a single launcher.
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