Nichols Martin
Lockheed Martin has shipped an initial batch of long range anti-ship missiles to the U.S. Air Force after completing integration, flight test, simulation and modeling requirements.
The company said Tuesday its LRASM system reached an early operational capability status on the military service’s B-1B bomber aircraft ahead of schedule.
The missile is built to detect and counter target ships in contested environments without relying heavily on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, GPS navigation and network links.
David Helsel, LRASM director at Lockheed’s missiles and fire control business, said that the milestone was a result of the company’s partnerships with the Air Force, U.S. Navy and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
The company expects the system to achieve an EOC designation on the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet next year.
