A RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet conducted a successful live firing of the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) off the coast of California in February.
The Australian government has announced that a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18F Super Hornet conducted a successful live firing of the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). The test, supported by the U.S. Navy, was conducted off the coast of California in February 2025.
In that timeframe, a contingent of the RAAF was in the U.S. to take part to exercises Red Flag Nellis 25-1 and Bamboo Eagle 25-1, which ran from Jan. 27 to Feb. 6 and from Feb. 8 to Feb. 15, respectively. The latter might have provided the perfect scenario for the testing, as it is meant to simulate “the challenges of conducting operations in the Indo-Pacific region, with a specific focus on long-range strike missions, maritime integration, and multi-domain coordination.”
Australia and LRASM
The testing was part of Australia’s commitment to significantly upgrade the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) maritime strike capability, which included a total of $895.5 million allocated for the acquisition of the LRASM. This is part of a wider $28–35 billion investment over the next decade to develop and enhance targeting and long-range strike capabilities.
“The acquisition of LRASM is a significant step up in long-range strike for our Air Force and underscores the Albanese Government’s commitment to equipping the ADF with the capabilities it needs to keep Australians safe,” said the Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy.
The operational testing, according to the Australian Ministry of Defense, involved the validation of weapons preparation and loading as well as targeting and successful weapon engagement. A long-range maritime strike against a potential adversary was simulated, supported by an Australian E-7A Wedgetail and EA-18G Growler aircraft alongside a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon.
Interestingly, the MoD released a video showing the test, including the moment of the weapons’ release seen both from the cockpit and from the second aircraft involved. In fact, two Super Hornets were employed for the live fire, each releasing an LRASM.
Following the completion of the operational testing, the MoD says the LRASM is now ready for operational use. The introduction of the weapon will increase the RAAF’s maritime strike range to more than 370 km.
“Capabilities such as the LRASM will help the Australian Defence Force protect against threats to Australia and our national interests,” said the Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. Notably, Australia is planning to introduce the weapon across all its platforms, following the U.S. Navy’s approach.
“These weapon systems equip our forces to better protect Australia’s maritime approaches and when necessary, conduct operations in our region,” said the Prime Minister. “It will be seen across the Super Hornet, Poseidon and F-35 fleets.”
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 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.
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. This was followed by the disclosure in March 2025 of the integration of the weapon also on the F-16.
