RAAF modernises air-launched strike capabilities

The Royal Australian Air Force has delivered a significant milestone for advanced long-range strike capabilities, with initial operational capability declared for the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) and the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range (JASSM-ER). The LRASM is an air-launched precision guided, semi-autonomous missile, designed to destroy high-value, well-defended maritime targets at ranges in excess of 370 kilometres. The JASSM-ER is an air-launched precision guided, long-range land strike cruise missile, designed to locate, identify and defeat targets from ranges of up to 900 kilometres from the launch aircraft. Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, DSC, CSC, OAM said the Royal Australian Air Force has demonstrated it is ready to conduct long-range, survivable and lethal maritime and land strike, from F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft, against highly defended targets. “By acquiring a suite of long-range maritime and land strike missiles Air Force will increase the lethality of our air combat aircraft and avoid increasingly sophisticated air defences. We are continuing to develop and grow Air Force’s ability to precisely strike targets at long-range. This will allow Air Force, as part of the integrated, focused force, to further enhance deterrence by holding potential adversary forces and infrastructure at risk from a greater distance.” Operational testing includes validation of weapons preparation and loading, as well as targeting and successful weapon engagement by F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft. In February 2025, two LRASM were successfully test fired at the Point Mugu Sea Range in the United States, followed by two JASSM-ER being successfully test fired at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia, in November. More recently, during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 26 (RIMPAC), operational testing has further expanded these capabilities, when a P-8A Poseidon successfully fired an LRASM hitting its target. Introducing both these complex weapons into service required close collaboration between the Royal Australian Air Force, Defence Delivery Group, Joint Capabilities Group, whole-of-government, and United States military and industry partners. The expansion of long-range strike capabilities, as identified in the National Defence Strategy, further enhances Defence’s ability to deliver deterrence through denial as an integrated, focused force. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]