Lockheed Martin Presents JASSM XR: An Extreme Range Cruise Missile.

On September 16, 2024, during the Air, Space & Cyber Conference of the Air & Space Forces Association, Lockheed Martin unveiled the latest version of its AGM-158 JASSM cruise missile, known as the JASSM XR (eXtreme Range). This new missile is designed to maintain stealth and precision strike capabilities while offering a range superior to the current JASSM-ER.
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The JASSM XR retains the same 1,000-pound (453.6 kg) warhead as the JASSM-ER and structural changes were made based on the JASSM-ER and LRASM models (Picture source: Lockheed Martin)

Until now, three versions existed: the AGM-158A JASSM, the baseline air-to-surface version; the AGM-158B JASSM-ER, the extended-range air-to-surface version; and the AGM-158C LRASM (Long Range Anti-Ship Missile), an anti-ship variant deployable in air-to-sea or sea-to-sea operations via Mk 41 VLS vertical launch cells.

The AGM-158 XR aims to push the boundaries of range even further. While technical details remain limited, Michael Rothstein, Vice President for Strategy and Requirements at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, stated, "I would say the range is significantly different. It's not minor. It's not on the edges." As a reminder, the U.S. Air Force reports that the JASSM-ER has a range exceeding 500 nautical miles, or more than 926 kilometers.

Jon Hill, Vice President and General Manager of Air Dominance and Strike Weapons at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, explained that the JASSM XR is designed to be the next iteration of the JASSM-D and LRASM-C3, which are currently contracted with the Air Force and Navy. Hill emphasized that the XR leverages existing production lines and processes: "We think of the XR as an extreme-range missile. What it really does is extend the existing JASSM and LRASM family to allow us to carry more fuel, which gives us the range we need and the warfighters require."

The JASSM XR retains the same 1,000-pound (453.6 kg) warhead as the JASSM-ER. Structural changes were made based on the JASSM-ER and LRASM models. The missile is longer, allowing it to carry more fuel, thereby increasing its range. Other potential enhancements may include the use of lighter alloys, improved aerodynamics, a redesigned structure, modified fins, or a more efficient propulsion system. Rothstein confirmed that some physical modifications were necessary to enhance range, including lengthening the structure to accommodate more fuel. Despite these changes, the goal was to reuse as much technology and components from current missile production as possible.

Despite these modifications, the missile maintains its stealth and precision characteristics. The extended range allows launch crews to deploy the JASSM XR from a greater distance, enabling strikes on deeper targets while remaining out of reach of enemy air defense systems.

However, the increase in total missile weight prevents certain combat aircraft, such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon, from carrying it. In contrast, the F/A-18, likely in its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet version, is already compatible. The F-35 Lightning II is also expected to be compatible in the near future, along with the F-15 Eagle. While there is no specific information regarding strategic bombers, Lockheed Martin's presentation video frequently features the B-1B Lancer.

Additionally, the B-52H Stratofortress’s ample carrying capacity should pose no issue, and the JASSM XR is likely to be integrated into the munitions bay of the B-2A Spirit and B-21 Raider stealth bombers of the U.S. Air Force.

Lockheed Martin also sought to optimize development costs by utilizing existing JASSM and LRASM production lines and designs. The missile's modular nature hints at the possibility of navalization or anti-ship use. While the LRASM can be launched from the Mk 41 VLS cells on U.S. Navy destroyers and cruisers, it remains to be seen if the JASSM XR will also be integrated into these systems.

Questions remain about the potential launch capability from transport aircraft. The JASSM and JASSM-ER can be loaded onto a standard pallet structure known as the Rapid Dragon. Once the aircraft’s bay opens, the pallet is ejected using a parachute, and the missiles initiate their engines during free fall. A heavier, larger missile might require adaptations to this system or the development of an "XR" version of Rapid Dragon.

The JASSM XR is not yet in service, with the first prototype flight planned for 2025 or 2026. No orders have been placed by the U.S. Air Force or Navy, and the entire development is funded by Lockheed Martin. Nonetheless, given its capabilities, this new missile could play a significant role in countering anti-access and area-denial systems, particularly those deployed by China in the South China Sea.

During the #AFA2024 conference, Jon Hill explained that the AGM-158 XR is being proactively developed to meet future U.S. requirements, succeeding the AGM-158D JASSM-ER and AGM-158C LRASM. Details remain limited, apart from the confirmation of an elongated fuselage. The fact that the JASSM XR cannot be carried by the F-16, due to its weight exceeding the F-16's internal station capacity of 4,500 pounds, underscores the missile’s increased mass.

According to Rothstein, some engineering changes were implemented, involving minor but clever internal structural modifications to achieve the missile's elongation. "It's not just a matter of stretching," he added, "there are other structural changes that we will make to make this happen. But in the macro sense, these are not major modifications beyond the stretching."

Lockheed Martin plans to conduct a flight test with a prototype within the next 12 to 24 months, with initial operational capability anticipated in the coming years. The JASSM XR is the third proposed derivative of the JASSM to be named "JASSM-XR." The original proposal involved lengthening the fuselage from 4.2 to 6.3 meters, integrating an upgraded turbofan, and a larger warhead. If the current model retains the existing 450 kg WDU-42/B warhead, it could potentially achieve a range exceeding 2,000 km.