LRASM Overview.-

LRASM is an autonomous, precision-guided anti-ship standoff missile leveraging off of the successful JASSM-ER heritage, and is designed to meet the needs of U.S. Navy and Air Force warfighters. Armed with a penetrator and blast fragmentation warhead, LRASM cruises autonomously, day or night in all weather conditions. The missile employs a multi-modal sensor suite, weapon data link, and enhanced digital anti-jam Global Positioning System to detect and destroy specific targets within a group of numerous ships at sea.

Lockheed Martin is executing a LRASM contract, funded by DARPA and the Office of Naval Research (ONR), to demonstrate tactically-relevant prototypes of a next generation anti-surface warfare weapon that can be either air or surface launched. The long range capability of LRASM will enable target engagement from well outside the range of direct counter-fire weapons. LRASM will also employ active and passive survivability features to penetrate advanced integrated air defense systems. The combination of range, survivability and lethality ensures mission success. The LRASM is expected to enter into serial production in 2015.

LRASM technology will reduce dependence on ISR platforms, network links, and GPS navigation in aggressive electronic warfare environments. This autonomous capability means the weapon can use gross target cueing data to find and destroy its target in denied environments.



Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) prior to being loaded onto a B-1 Bomber June 12, 2013, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

The LRASM development programme was jointly initiated in 2008 by the DARPA and ONR, to penetrate more sophisticated air defence systems of enemies from long range. The development programme was planned in two phases; the study and design phase (phase one), and the demonstration phase (phase two). The nine month first phase of the project included the complete concept development, primary design, cost estimation and analytical support for the development. The 27-month second phase covers detailed design, critical design review (CDR), material procurement, fabrication, integration and testing.

DARPA/ONR selected three contractors for the LRASM development programme. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Strike Weapons located in Orland was selected for LRASM-A prototype demonstration. Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control Tactical Missiles, based in Grand Prairie, is responsible for LRASM-B prototype weapon system demonstration. BAE Systems, Information and Electronic Systems Integration, based in Nashua, was selected for the design and development of onboard sensor systems.

Each division of Lockheed Martin was awarded a $9.7m study contract by DARPA, for the design of the LRASM, in 2009. Lockheed Martin was also awarded two demonstration phase contracts, totalling $218m, in January 2011. The first $60.3m contract received by the Lockheed Martin LRASM-A team involves the execution of two air-launched demonstrations, while the $157.7m second contract awarded to LRASM-B team includes four Vertical Launch System (VLS) demonstrations of LRASM for the US Navy.

Unlike current anti-ship missiles the LRASM will be capable of conducting autonomous targeting, relying on on-board targeting systems to independently acquire the target without the presence of prior, precision intelligence, or supporting services like Global Positioning Satellite navigation and data-links.

Lockheed Martin conducted the first captive carry flight test of LRASM at various altitudes and speeds in July 2012. The flight test was conducted to find the LRASM's ability to detect, classify and recognise targets.

In March 2013, DARPA awarded a $71m modification contract to Lockheed Martin for conducting additional air-launched LRASM flight test from a B-1B Lancer. Under the contract, the company also provides risk reduction efforts to test the electromagnetic compatibility of the missile and follow-on captive carry sensor suite missions.

The LRASM programme was initially focused on the development of two variants, the LRASM-A and LRASM-B. The LRASM-A was designed based on Joint Air to Surface Stand-off Missile Extended Range (JASSM-ER) airframe, and included added sensors and systems. The LRASM-B was designed for high-altitude and supersonic speed over stealthy penetration. The LRASM-B development was, however, cancelled by DARPA in 2012.

B-1 test squadron demonstrates anti-ship missile.

The LRASM is designed to be launched by Mark 41 Vertical Launch System aboard most of the US Navy vessels and fixed wing aircraft. It can be fired from outside direct counter-fire ranges with maximum possibility of target hit. The LRASM is designed to carry a 1,000lb penetrating blast fragmentation warhead. The self-directed sensing, advanced signature control and dynamic response features allow the missile to approach targets, while defeating air defence systems.

The LRASM is equipped with a multimodal radio-frequency sensor suite for detecting targets. It includes a weapon data link for better communication with operators, and an improved digital anti-jam global positioning system to discover and destruct multiple specific targets. An electro-optical seeker installed in the missile provides positive object recognition and accurate targeting during the terminal phase of flight. The on-board targeting systems installed on the LRASM help the missile autonomously obtain the target without the support of prior, precision intelligence, or other supporting services.

The LRASM is slightly modified from the original JASSM-ER to incorporate a multimode "radio frequency" sensor. The LRASM also incorporates a new weapon datalink, an altimeter and an uprated power system. However, it is largely the same weapon system as the JASSM-ER, with no other changes to the airframe or outer mould line. For the anti-ship role, the weapon can either be cued by the launch platform or receive updates via its datalink. But even if the weapon is only given a general area in which to find its quarry, its onboard sensors will be able to locate and attack an enemy warship. To defeat the increasingly sophisticated air defences of modern warships, the LRASM will fly towards its target at medium altitude, before dropping down to low altitude to act as a sea-skimming stealth cruise missile during the terminal phase of the engagement. The JASSM-ER has a range of more than 500nm (925km), but publicly DARPA will only say the LRASM has a range greater than 200nm.

This year, DARPA and the ONR will conduct test flights of instrumented versions of the new weapon from the B-1. In 2014, the programme will also conduct vertical launches from the Mk 41 vertical launch system found on US Navy warships such as Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers and Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers, from a so-called "desert ship" at the White Sands missile range in New Mexico. For the surface launch capability the weapon is slightly modified to incorporate a jettisonable Mk 114 rocket booster on the tail-end of the missile. Once the rocket boosts the weapon up to medium altitude, the surface-launched LRASM will operate like an air-launched version. Lockheed has also explored concepts for a submarine-launched variant of the LRASM but the first priority is the air-launched weapon, followed by the surface-launched variant.