Italy to Procure JASSM-ER Missiles: An Insight

The Department of State has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Italian Government for Extended Range Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles and related equipment at an estimated cost of 301 million dollars. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has released the required certification notifying Congress.

The Italian Government has requested the purchase of one hundred (100) Extended Range (JASSM-ER) AGM-158B/B-2 air-to-surface missiles.

The missiles in question will arm the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter-bomber.

The main contractor will be Lockheed Martin, based in Orlando, Florida and there is no assignment of additional United States Government or contractor representatives in Italy.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control manufactures the AGM-158B/B2 JASSM-ER which is being procured by Finland, Germany, Netherlands and Poland through Europe. These countries have chosen it as an armament system for the F-35A, the fighter-bomber with which their respective Air Forces are renewing their main lines of combat flight.

AGM-158B/B2 JASSM-ER

The AGM-158B/B2 JASSM-ER has a range exceeding 925 km or 575 nautical miles; it is equipped with a GPS guidance system resistant to jamming and an IR seeker for the terminal guidance of the precision attack phase.

The system is equipped with a Williams International F107-WR-105 turbofan that allows the JASSM-ER to reach subsonic speed.

The JASSM-ER is armed with a 450 kg (1,000 lb) WDU-42/B penetration and explosion fragmentation type warhead capable of hitting protected targets.

Source: Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)

Photo credit: @