US Navy Enhances F-16 Viper’s Anti-Ship Strike Capabilities with Stealthy LRASM Missiles
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According to a procurement notice published by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on March 18, 2025, the US Navy officially announced its plan to integrate the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) into the F-16 Viper fighter. This development represents an expansion of the aircraft’s anti-ship capabilities. It is part of a broader initiative aimed at increasing the number of platforms capable of deploying the LRASM, particularly in anticipation of a potential large-scale conflict in the Indo-Pacific region.
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The AGM-158C LRASM is a subsonic cruise missile designed for contested environments where reconnaissance and GPS navigation systems may be compromised (Picture source: US DoD)
The procurement notice confirms that NAVAIR intends to enter exclusive negotiations with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control for a contract covering the development and testing of the missile’s integration onto the F-16. This effort will focus specifically on the AGM-158C-1, the primary version currently in production, while a C-3 variant, featuring an almost doubled range, is in development.
The LRASM is derived from the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) family, already integrated into the US Air Force’s F-16C/D. Adding the LRASM to the F-16 marks a substantial upgrade, as the aircraft’s existing anti-ship capability is limited, primarily relying on the AGM-84 Harpoon missile. However, the extent to which Air Force F-16 units currently operate the Harpoon remains unclear. Additionally, while the Air Force has begun acquiring the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) for its F-35A fleet, this missile has not yet been designated for F-16 integration.
The AGM-158C LRASM is a subsonic cruise missile designed for contested environments where reconnaissance and GPS navigation systems may be compromised. Developed by Lockheed Martin in collaboration with DARPA, it builds on the JASSM-ER architecture while incorporating advanced sensors and autonomous targeting systems. Equipped with a passive sensor developed by BAE Systems, it can independently identify and engage naval targets even without real-time data link communication. Its low-altitude flight profile and reduced radar signature enhance its survivability against modern air defense systems. The missile carries a 450 kg fragmentation-explosive warhead, designed to inflict severe damage on surface vessels.
The LRASM is currently deployed on platforms such as the B-1B Lancer and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, as well as from naval vessels equipped with the MK 41 Vertical Launch System. Its integration onto the F-16 and other aircraft, along with an increase in production, aligns with US efforts to maintain an operational advantage in maritime warfare, particularly in the Pacific. The missile’s range exceeds 200 nautical miles, allowing it to engage targets from a safe distance beyond the reach of enemy defenses.
One of LRASM’s main advantages over the Harpoon lies in its stealth characteristics and advanced autonomous navigation. The missile features an electronic support measures (ESM) system that enables it to adjust its trajectory in response to emerging threats. It also employs an imaging infrared seeker in its terminal phase, making it resistant to radio-frequency jamming and allowing it to target specific areas of a vessel based on pre-loaded data. Additionally, its two-way data link enables in-flight target updates and coordinated strikes with other missiles.
The announcement of LRASM’s integration on the F-16 follows a recent demonstration by the US Air Force’s 53rd Test and Evaluation Group of a new communications gateway designed to accelerate weapons integration onto the Viper. In the test, a Harpoon Block II+ missile was used as a demonstrator to assess the F-16’s ability to recognize and guide weapons through this interface. While not specifically designed for LRASM, this system could facilitate its integration into the aircraft.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to expand the range of US military platforms capable of deploying LRASM. Currently, only the US Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and the US Air Force’s B-1 bombers are certified to carry the missile. However, efforts are underway to integrate it into P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, as well as the B and C variants of the F-35. In January, NAVAIR also issued a procurement notice for integrating the missile into the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15EX Eagle II.
The US military is actively working to enhance its air-launched anti-ship strike capabilities amid increasing tensions in the South China Sea and the broader Pacific region. Production of LRASM and its predecessor, JASSM, has accelerated, with Lockheed Martin recently receiving an additional $122.6 million contract for increased manufacturing. However, concerns remain regarding the availability of long-range standoff munitions and the ability to replenish stockpiles in a sustained conflict. The unit cost of LRASM, estimated at around $3 million, along with the complexity of its production, has also driven interest in lower-cost alternatives.
Beyond strategic considerations, integrating LRASM into the F-16 could also open new export opportunities. With numerous countries operating different variants of the F-16, the possibility of equipping them with an advanced anti-ship strike capability may appeal to potential buyers.
While no precise timeline has been disclosed for the missile’s operational deployment on the F-16, this program represents a notable expansion of the aircraft’s maritime strike capabilities, enhancing its effectiveness against modern naval threats.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
According to a procurement notice published by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on March 18, 2025, the US Navy officially announced its plan to integrate the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) into the F-16 Viper fighter. This development represents an expansion of the aircraft’s anti-ship capabilities. It is part of a broader initiative aimed at increasing the number of platforms capable of deploying the LRASM, particularly in anticipation of a potential large-scale conflict in the Indo-Pacific region.
The AGM-158C LRASM is a subsonic cruise missile designed for contested environments where reconnaissance and GPS navigation systems may be compromised (Picture source: US DoD)
The procurement notice confirms that NAVAIR intends to enter exclusive negotiations with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control for a contract covering the development and testing of the missile’s integration onto the F-16. This effort will focus specifically on the AGM-158C-1, the primary version currently in production, while a C-3 variant, featuring an almost doubled range, is in development.
The LRASM is derived from the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) family, already integrated into the US Air Force’s F-16C/D. Adding the LRASM to the F-16 marks a substantial upgrade, as the aircraft’s existing anti-ship capability is limited, primarily relying on the AGM-84 Harpoon missile. However, the extent to which Air Force F-16 units currently operate the Harpoon remains unclear. Additionally, while the Air Force has begun acquiring the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) for its F-35A fleet, this missile has not yet been designated for F-16 integration.
The AGM-158C LRASM is a subsonic cruise missile designed for contested environments where reconnaissance and GPS navigation systems may be compromised. Developed by Lockheed Martin in collaboration with DARPA, it builds on the JASSM-ER architecture while incorporating advanced sensors and autonomous targeting systems. Equipped with a passive sensor developed by BAE Systems, it can independently identify and engage naval targets even without real-time data link communication. Its low-altitude flight profile and reduced radar signature enhance its survivability against modern air defense systems. The missile carries a 450 kg fragmentation-explosive warhead, designed to inflict severe damage on surface vessels.
The LRASM is currently deployed on platforms such as the B-1B Lancer and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, as well as from naval vessels equipped with the MK 41 Vertical Launch System. Its integration onto the F-16 and other aircraft, along with an increase in production, aligns with US efforts to maintain an operational advantage in maritime warfare, particularly in the Pacific. The missile’s range exceeds 200 nautical miles, allowing it to engage targets from a safe distance beyond the reach of enemy defenses.
One of LRASM’s main advantages over the Harpoon lies in its stealth characteristics and advanced autonomous navigation. The missile features an electronic support measures (ESM) system that enables it to adjust its trajectory in response to emerging threats. It also employs an imaging infrared seeker in its terminal phase, making it resistant to radio-frequency jamming and allowing it to target specific areas of a vessel based on pre-loaded data. Additionally, its two-way data link enables in-flight target updates and coordinated strikes with other missiles.
The announcement of LRASM’s integration on the F-16 follows a recent demonstration by the US Air Force’s 53rd Test and Evaluation Group of a new communications gateway designed to accelerate weapons integration onto the Viper. In the test, a Harpoon Block II+ missile was used as a demonstrator to assess the F-16’s ability to recognize and guide weapons through this interface. While not specifically designed for LRASM, this system could facilitate its integration into the aircraft.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to expand the range of US military platforms capable of deploying LRASM. Currently, only the US Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and the US Air Force’s B-1 bombers are certified to carry the missile. However, efforts are underway to integrate it into P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, as well as the B and C variants of the F-35. In January, NAVAIR also issued a procurement notice for integrating the missile into the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15EX Eagle II.
The US military is actively working to enhance its air-launched anti-ship strike capabilities amid increasing tensions in the South China Sea and the broader Pacific region. Production of LRASM and its predecessor, JASSM, has accelerated, with Lockheed Martin recently receiving an additional $122.6 million contract for increased manufacturing. However, concerns remain regarding the availability of long-range standoff munitions and the ability to replenish stockpiles in a sustained conflict. The unit cost of LRASM, estimated at around $3 million, along with the complexity of its production, has also driven interest in lower-cost alternatives.
Beyond strategic considerations, integrating LRASM into the F-16 could also open new export opportunities. With numerous countries operating different variants of the F-16, the possibility of equipping them with an advanced anti-ship strike capability may appeal to potential buyers.
While no precise timeline has been disclosed for the missile’s operational deployment on the F-16, this program represents a notable expansion of the aircraft’s maritime strike capabilities, enhancing its effectiveness against modern naval threats.
