Australia declares JASSM-ER and LRASM operational on F/A-18F Super Hornets

September 12, 2026 at 12:16 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Australia declared Initial Operational Capability for the U.S.-made JASSM-ER and LRASM missiles on its F/A-18F Super Hornets on 11 September 2026. The Royal Australian Air Force is now ready to conduct long-range land and maritime strikes against heavily defended targets. The declaration deepens U.S.-Australian combat integration and expands allied stand-off strike capacity in the Indo-Pacific.

Key Facts

The AGM-158B JASSM-ER has a stated range of up to 900 km, while the AGM-158C LRASM is designed to engage high-value surface targets beyond 370 km.
Australia acquired the weapons through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales framework, including an approved package of up to 200 LRASMs and a separate sale covering 80 JASSM-ER missiles.
In February 2020, the U.S. State Department approved a possible sale to Australia of up to 200 LRASMs and eleven ATM-158C telemetry missiles, with an estimated value of $990 million and Lockheed Martin as the principal contractor.
In July 2022, Washington approved a sale covering 80 AGM-158B and AGM-158B-2 missiles, together with associated support equipment, for $235 million.
In May 2023, the Pentagon awarded Lockheed Martin a $750.6 million contract for JASSM Lot 21, which included missiles for Australia under the FMS framework.

Operational Capability Declaration

In a statement issued on 11 September 2026, the Australian Department of Defence announced that the RAAF had declared Initial Operational Capability for both the JASSM-ER and LRASM on the F/A-18F Super Hornet. The department stated that the Australian air force is now ready to conduct long-range land and maritime strikes against heavily defended targets. The declaration therefore goes beyond technical integration or a test campaign and confirms that the weapons are available for operational use by the relevant units.

Missile Capabilities

The two weapons belong to the AGM-158 family but address different mission requirements. JASSM-ER is a low-observable subsonic cruise missile designed to penetrate advanced air defense networks. Its turbofan engine and redesigned fuel system provide a range that Canberra states can reach up to 900 kilometers from the launch aircraft. The LRASM is designed to engage high-value surface targets beyond 370 km, following live-fire validation in the United States and Australia.

Acquisition History

This capability results from an acquisition process initiated several years earlier through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales system. In February 2020, the U.S. State Department approved a possible sale to Australia of up to 200 LRASMs and eleven ATM-158C telemetry missiles, with an estimated value of $990 million and Lockheed Martin as the principal contractor. Canberra subsequently allocated A$895.5 million to the acquisition of the LRASM, without publicly disclosing the final number purchased. For the JASSM-ER, Washington approved a sale in July 2022 covering 80 AGM-158B and AGM-158B-2 missiles, together with associated support equipment, for $235 million. In May 2023, the Pentagon awarded Lockheed Martin a $750.6 million contract for JASSM Lot 21, which included missiles for Australia under the FMS framework. Australia’s 2024 guided weapons plan separately valued the JASSM-ER acquisition effort at A$575 million.