In a major development, the US Air Force has contracted Lockheed Martin and Raytheon for missile production totaling $7.8 billion under international defense sales. Lockheed’s $4.29-billion agreement includes deliveries of JASSM and LRASM cruise missiles to multiple countries by early 2033.
Raytheon was granted a separate deal valued at up to $3.5 billion to supply AMRAAM missiles and support services to over a dozen partner nations, including Japan, Sweden, Ukraine, and Spain, with expected completion by 2031.
The AGM-158 JASSM is an advanced air-to-surface missile used for precision strikes on ground targets, with ranges up to 575 miles in its extended variant. The AGM-158C LRASM, focused on maritime targets, offers autonomous target-hunting capabilities at sea.
The AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, developed by Raytheon, is a supersonic air-to-air weapon suited for beyond-visual-range combat. With multiple variants, including the extended-range AMRAAM-ER, it is compatible with modern fighter aircraft like the F-16 and F-35.
