NAVAIR is looking to award a contract for the integration of the AGM-158C-1 Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) on the F-16.
The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) released on Mar. 17, 2025, a presolicitation to negotiate a contract with Lockheed Martin for the integration and test support of the AGM-158C-1 Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) on the F-16. This development follows the recent news of a new contract to Lockheed Martin to increase the production of the JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) and LRASM.
The notice mentions that NAVAIR “intends to enter into sole source negotiations and subsequently award a Cost-Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) Delivery Order (DO) to Lockheed Martin Corporation-Missiles Fire Control.” Also, the notice mentions that the “requirement includes testing both the AGM-158C-1 Legacy and UAI interfaces.”
The UAI, or Universal Armament Interface, is the result of a U.S. Department of Defense program to develop standardized functional interfaces in both aircraft and weapons to support a rapid integration of new weapons independent of an aircraft’s Operational Flight Program (OFP) cycles. The F-16 and JASSM were already tested with the new interface.
NAVAIR has not released additional details about the integration of LRASM on the F-16 at this time, although we might have more info after the response day planned for Apr. 1. Earlier this month, Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) disclosed that the F-35B Lightning II started flight testing as part of the integration with LRASM.
The AGM-158 production increase
On Mar. 14, 2025, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control has been awarded a $122,6 million contract modification to the original production increase’s contract awarded in 2018. As part of the contract, the company will “procure tooling and test equipment needed to increase production quantities of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile.”
Lockheed Martin has been investing in the increase of the AGM-158’s production since 2022, when it added a new 225,000-square-foot factory to its existing production facilities. In 2024, another contract modification was awarded to “enable the ability to increase annual production quantities by providing additional resources for long-lead procurements and facilitating production line efficiencies.”
In the fiscal year 2025 budget the U.S. Air Force requested 550 JASSMs, after the same number was also requested in 2024 and 600 were requested in 2023. The Air Force budget requested for its own and the Navy’s stocks 115 LRASMs in FY2025, 27 in FY2024 and 57 in FY2023.
The LRASM
The AGM-158C LRASM, based on the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range (JASSM-ER), is the new low-observable anti-ship cruise missile developed by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. NAVAIR describes the weapon as a defined near-term solution for the Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (OASuW) air-launch capability gap that will provide flexible, long-range, advanced, anti-surface capability against high-threat maritime targets.
NAVAIR says the weapon reduces dependency on Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, network links, and GPS navigation in electronic warfare environments. In fact, once launched, LRASM guides to an initial point using a GPS guidance system and employs onboard sensors to locate, identify, and provide terminal guidance to the target. Semi-autonomous guidance algorithms will allow it to use less-precise target cueing data to pinpoint specific targets in the contested domain.
There are currently three variants which comprise the OASuW Increment 1 program, designated LRASM 1.0, LRASM 1.1, and LRASM C-3. The LRASM 1.0 variant, which was fielded with early operational capability in 2019, has already been integrated on the B-1B Lancer and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
The newer LRASM 1.1 variant was fielded in 2023 and is undergoing Initial Operational Test & Evaluation, according to the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation’s report. The weapon is also being integrated on the P-8A Poseidon, with the activities expected to be completed by Summer 2024, although no updates about the status were released.
As for the future LRASM C-3, which adds extended range capability, the program planned a land strike capability was part of the LRASM C-3 upgrade but has since decided to remain focused on surface warfare capabilities. The missile concept of operations and system requirements were completed last year, focusing on anti-surface warfare employment range and updating the missile target threat library compared to LRASM 1.1.
The Navy has scheduled LRASM C-3 early operational capability (EOC) for 4QFY26. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense continues to plan for OASuW Increment 2 to be developed via full and open competition, with EOC anticipated in FY29 and initial operational capability anticipated in FY31. The Navy funded LRASM C-3 to bridge the gap until an OASuW Increment 2 program of record is established.
In January 2025, NAVAIR disclosed that the U.S. Air Force’s F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15EX Eagle IIs are now set to be armed with the LRASM. Similarly to the F-16, the F-15E/EX has already been tested with the similar JASSM and the UAI.
In September 2024, an F-35C test aircraft from Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland, conducted the first test flights for the integration of the AGM-158, both in the JASSM and LRASM variants. In January 2025, the same testing was also conducted with the F-35B.
