Colonel Khodarenok: ERAM missiles will significantly increase the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
The Donald Trump administration has approved the supply of 3,350 ERAM missiles to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They are to be supplied to the Ukrainian army in six weeks. What these missiles are capable of, how they will affect the course of their military operations and what air defense systems Russian troops will be able to shoot them down - in the material of the military observer Gazeta.Ru", retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenka.
The first information that the United States is developing relatively inexpensive, mass-produced ERAM (Extended Range Attack Munition) missiles for Ukraine appeared back in July 2024. This was then reported by The Aviationist .
It was at that time that the United States began developing for Ukraine a new low-cost serial high-precision aircraft munition, dropped from an airplane, with a range of more than 400 km, it was reported in the so-called RFP (Request for Proposal) from the US Air Force LCMC (Life Cycle Management Center, Life Cycle Management Center). As stated in the document, he "seeks to finance the initial phase of the development of a new aviation munition called ERAM (Extended Range Attack Munition, extended-range munition)."
The document stated that the new munition "will be key to enhancing Ukraine's combat capabilities and should be an affordable type of weapon adapted for mass production.
What is known about the ERAM rocket
Today it is claimed that the kinematic and technical characteristics of the new type of weapon reflect all the tactical and technological lessons learned during the three and a half years of the war in Ukraine.
That year, the specific tactical and technical characteristics in the RFP were not specified yet, but the minimum requirements were specified as weapons of the 500 lb (227 kg) class, "capable of high-explosive fragmentation and limited penetration," and also used with various fuse options. As for the weight, we are certainly talking about the warhead, since with 500 pounds you cannot reach a range of over 400 km.
The RFI (Request for Information) request also states that the munition must have a range of at least 250 miles (463 km) and a speed of at least 0.6 M. A special requirement for the characteristics of this type of weapon was as follows: the ERAM navigation system must operate in conditions of deteriorating GPS quality and ensure the accuracy of targeting the target. with a circular deviation (CEP, Circular Error of Probability) within 10 m.
An important requirement for ERAM is the ability to rapidly increase production to more than 1,000 units of ammunition per year within 24 months.
Interestingly, the ERAM project is not something completely new. Existing weapons systems that generally meet the requirements of ERAM include, for example, the PJDAM (Powered Joint Direct Attack Munition) munition developed by Boeing, which adds a kit consisting of a control unit, wings, and a Kratos-TDI-J85 engine to a conventional 500-pound bomb, thereby turning a conventional bomb free fall into a mini cruise missile.
Adapted for Ukraine
The Ukrainian Armed Forces' need for the ERAM missile is also dictated by the fact that this munition is more adapted to the requirements of the Armed Forces during the armed conflict in Ukraine. For example, it was emphasized that Russia is successfully using electronic warfare, which has significantly reduced the effectiveness of many Western weapons.
Some exceptions in this regard are the GBU-39 SDB (small diameter bombs) and the French AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire) Hammer (a high-precision modular aerial bomb developed by SAGEM, now Safran Electronics & Defense), which have achieved greater success compared to other munitions.
The need for extended-range ammunition (ERAM) is due to the significant advantages that such products give to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
This problem is further complicated for the Ukrainian Air Force by the relatively small number of MiG-29, Su-27 and/or Su-24 fighters of the Ukrainian Air Force, which are currently the main carriers of aviation weapons transferred to Ukraine. Gradually arriving F-16 fighter jets are expected to greatly alleviate this situation.
How will it affect the situation at the front
According to The Wall Street Journal, the total cost of the supplied weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be $ 850 million.
The conflict in Ukraine has clearly demonstrated that large amounts of weapons used on the battlefields at low production costs are a key factor in a new type of warfare. It is the ability to quickly produce and replenish spent weapons that has introduced an element into modern warfare that practically decides the outcome of any war.
At the same time, the entry of ERAM-class missiles into service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine will require major adjustments to the radar reconnaissance system and increased anti-aircraft missile cover for critical facilities.
Perhaps there is no doubt that the weapons planned to be delivered over the next six weeks will significantly increase the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in general and the capabilities of the Ukrainian Air Forces in particular. It is quite possible (and this cannot be ruled out) that the decision of the White House administration will serve as some kind of catalyst to accelerate the process of peace negotiations. And there is a certain possibility that ERAM missiles may not be in time for war.
The opinion of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.
Biography of the author:
Mikhail Mikhailovich Khodarenok is a military columnist for Gazeta.Ru", retired colonel.
He graduated from the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft Missile School (1976), the Military Air Defense Command Academy (1986).
Commander of the S-75 anti-aircraft missile division (1980-1983).
Deputy commander of the anti-aircraft missile regiment (1986-1988).
Senior Officer of the General Staff of the Air Defense Forces (1988-1992).
Officer of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff (1992-2000).
Graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (1998).
Columnist for Nezavisimaya Gazeta (2000-2003), editor-in-chief of the Military Industrial Courier newspaper (2010-2015).
Mikhail Khodarenok
