Australian fighters will receive an American LRASM missile
The F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet fighter-bombers of the Royal Australian Air Force will be able to carry the new missile. American specialists are integrating the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) into the arsenal of Australian aircraft. This is reported by Flight Global.
It is noted that Australia has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin in the amount of 49.3 million dollars. As part of the agreement, the company will provide testing and integration of equipment for the management of new ammunition. The work is planned to be completed in 2026.
The AGM-158C LRASM subsonic long-range missile defense system was developed as a promising armament for ships and deck aircraft of the US Navy. The first launch from the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet was carried out in 2017, and in 2018 the rocket was put into service.
The range of the LRASM exceeds 900 kilometers. It is believed that a missile with a warhead weighing 450 kilograms can destroy a ship with a displacement of up to nine thousand tons.
In October 2021, Forbes noted that two B-1B Lancer bombers could fire 48 missiles at a target.
In March 2021, The Drive publication suggested that American B-1Bs in Norway could be targeted at Russia.
