US Navy tests F-35C stealth fighter with AGM-158C anti-ship missiles to counter China.

On September 8, 2024, the US Department of Defense (US DoD) announced that the F-35 Lightning II program initiated flight testing to certify the carrier variant of the fighter aircraft for carrying the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). As part of ongoing integration efforts, the Pax River F-35 Integrated Test Force (Pax ITF) team conducted two days of test flights to assess flutter, loads, and flying qualities with two AGM-158C missiles loaded on external stations of the F-35C.
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The U.S. Navy aims to address threats, such as those posed by the Chinese PLA Navy, by enhancing the F-35C's maritime strike capabilities using such weapon integrations. (Picture source: US DoD)

The Pax River Integrated Test Force (Pax ITF) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, is actively involved in testing and evaluating the F-35's capabilities, focusing on integration with various weapon systems to enhance operational readiness. One recent test involved the F-35C carrying the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) on external wing hardpoints, a necessary adaptation due to the missile's size, as it does not fit within the internal weapons bays. This external carriage impacts the F-35’s stealth profile but is an important step in increasing the aircraft's anti-ship capabilities. The U.S. Navy aims to address threats, such as those posed by the Chinese PLA Navy, by enhancing the F-35C's maritime strike capabilities using such weapon integrations.

The Pax ITF operates within the context of a global F-35 test fleet comprising 43 aircraft, many of which are older models that have maintenance issues and may not fully align with modern configurations. This aging fleet presents challenges for ongoing testing and upgrades, which have been exacerbated by the recent crash of a new F-35B test jet intended to augment the developmental test fleet. The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) has recognized the limitations posed by the current fleet, particularly in supporting necessary upgrades and modernization efforts.

To address these challenges, provisions in the proposed fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) include the authorization to acquire nine new test jets to enhance the testing capabilities of the F-35 program. These additional aircraft would support flight sciences and mission systems testing, addressing the critical need to expand and update the test fleet and maintain the aircraft's operational effectiveness.

Although it has a shorter range than the AGM-158B JASSM-ER it’s based on, the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) can cover distances over 370 kilometers. (Picture source: US DoD)

The AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) is a stealthy, precision-guided cruise missile designed to engage and destroy heavily defended maritime targets. Achieving early operational capability with the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in August 2024, it is equipped with a unique sensor and targeting system that enables it to function in highly contested environments. This system includes enhanced digital anti-jam GPS, which provides precise guidance and terminal homing capabilities in all weather conditions, day or night. The LRASM can detect and destroy specific targets within a group of ships, reducing its reliance on intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance platforms, and GPS in contested environments, making it suitable for modern naval warfare.

The missile has a sophisticated array of sensors and guidance systems that allow it to autonomously locate and attack its target. It incorporates a multi-mode passive RF, an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker, electronic support measures, and a radar warning receiver, which, combined with artificial intelligence, help it discriminate targets in a crowded environment. The missile's low radar cross-section and infrared signature reduce its detectability, enabling it to evade defenses as it approaches its target using a sea-skimming flight profile. Although it has a shorter range than the AGM-158B JASSM-ER it’s based on, the LRASM can cover distances over 370 kilometers (200 nautical miles), offering significant standoff capabilities.

In terms of recent developments, the Navy conducted a “graduation exercise” involving the simultaneous launch of four AGM-158C-3 LRASMs, showcasing the missile's high-end lethality from mission planning to target impact. The Air Force is planning a multiyear procurement of 549 LRASMs through fiscal 2029, indicating a ramp-up in production and deployment of this advanced weapon system. The missile is intended to provide a long-range anti-surface capability against high-threat maritime targets and is a critical component of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) family, used by both the Navy and Air Force.

Unlike the F-35A and F-35B, the F-35C includes foldable wings to save space on carrier decks and has reinforced landing gear to handle the stresses of naval operations. (Picture source: US DoD)

The F-35C is the carrier-based version of the F-35 family, designed for catapult launches and arrested landings (CATOBAR), making it suitable for aircraft carrier operations. It features a larger wingspan of 13.1 meters and a wing area of 62.1 square meters. This variant is heavier and slower than other versions but has the longest range, with a maximum range of 2,520 kilometers. Unlike the F-35A and F-35B, the F-35C includes foldable wings to save space on carrier decks and has reinforced landing gear to handle the stresses of naval operations. It is equipped with a refuel probe instead of a refuel receptacle, further differentiating it from the other variants.

The F-35C has a length of 15.5 meters and an empty weight of 15,800 kilograms. Its maximum takeoff weight falls within the 31,800-kilogram class. It carries an internal fuel capacity of 8,900 kilograms, allowing a combat radius of 1,130 kilometers on internal fuel. The aircraft is powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, capable of generating a maximum thrust of 190 kilonewtons (43,000 lbf). The thrust-to-weight ratio is 0.75 when carrying full fuel and 0.91 at 50% fuel capacity. The larger wing area contributes to reduced landing speeds and improved low-speed control needed for carrier operations.

The F-35C can carry various weapons internally and externally, providing flexibility in mission profiles. Its armament includes air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9X Sidewinder, each weighing 91 kilograms, and the AIM-120 AMRAAM at 159 kilograms per missile. For air-to-ground missions, it can carry guided bombs like the GBU-12, weighing 250 kilograms, and the GBU-31, weighing 907 kilograms. Additionally, it can be equipped with a centerline gun pod weighing 250 kilograms. This payload capability enables the F-35C to perform both air superiority and ground attack missions.

The F-35C can carry various weapons internally and externally, including air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9X Sidewinder and the AIM-120 AMRAAM, as well as guided bombs like the GBU-12 or the GBU-31. (Picture source: US DoD)