Germany Ready to Finalize Purchase of US JASSM-ER Missiles.

Germany is ready to finalize the purchase of 75 American JASSM-ER cruise missiles, as announced on March 19, 2024. This move follows the authorization given by the American Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) in July 2022, allowing Germany to acquire 35 F-35A fighter jets for an initial estimated cost of 8.4 billion dollars.
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Germany is on the verge of finalizing the purchase of 75 American JASSM-ER cruise missiles. (Picture source: Dutch MoD)

This cost also included a significant payload of munitions, comprising 105 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM missiles, 770 bombs of various types, as well as the 75 AGM-158B/B-2 JASSM-ER (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range) missiles.

The letter of offer and acceptance for the F-35A purchase was signed five months later, including the mentioned armament, for a cost of about 8.3 billion euros. However, the specific order for the JASSM-ERs, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, had not been finalized at that time.

The newspaper Bild revealed that the ordering process for the JASSM-ERs had been delayed, but an official contract is now expected by the fall of 2024. This development was confirmed by the German Ministry of Defense. The order is expected to be around 605 million euros, according to estimates based on previous JASSM-ER missile orders.

Operational since 2014, the JASSM-ER is a missile with a range of 800 to 1000 kilometers, first used in combat in 2018. Due to its size, it cannot be carried inside the F-35As without compromising their stealth.

The AGM-158B JASSM-ER (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile - Extended Range) is an advanced and improved version of the JASSM, designed to allow air forces to hit highly defended targets from a great distance without exposing the launching aircraft to enemy defense systems. Its extended range, varying between 800 and 1000 kilometers, sets it apart from its predecessor, thereby offering an increased deep strike capability. Introduced into the military arsenal in 2014, the JASSM-ER is equipped with a sophisticated navigation system that combines GPS with an inertial navigation system, allowing the missile to maintain a precise trajectory towards its target even in electronic warfare environments where GPS could be disrupted.

The JASSM-ER is armed with a high-explosive penetrative warhead, designed to destroy fortified targets like bunkers or underground facilities. This missile also features advanced stealth capabilities, reducing its visibility to enemy radars and thus increasing its chances of surviving and reaching the target without interception. Its use was notably reported during Operation Hamilton in 2018, conducted jointly by France, the United States, and the United Kingdom, targeting the Syrian chemical weapons program.

Due to its significant size, the JASSM-ER cannot be carried inside the weapon bays of certain stealth aircraft like the F-35A; it must be mounted on external hardpoints, which can compromise the aircraft's stealth. This characteristic imposes certain operational limitations but is offset by the missile's ability to be launched from a safe distance, thereby minimizing risks to the aircraft and their crews.

Furthermore, Germany has recently sought authorization from the United States to order an additional 969 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM missiles for 2.6 billion euros. This news comes in a context of discussions about the possibility of Germany providing KEPD-350 Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, an option to which Chancellor Olaf Scholz remains opposed.