DARPA Long Range Anti-ship Missile (LRASM)

[NMaude]

Defense Updates has just put out a video concerning the P-8 Poseidon being armed with the LRASM:

Boeing, the manufacturer of the P-8, is collaborating with Lockheed Martin to integrate the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) into the aircraft. Testing is currently in progress, and soon the enhanced aircraft will be available to the US Navy.

The initial modification of the fleet aircraft is anticipated to be completed by January 2025. The P-8A will be equipped with four LRASM missiles mounted under its wings, as the missile is too large to be housed in the aircraft’s weapons bay.

Jon Spore, Boeing senior business development representative for the P-8, said in a briefing with reporters during a visit to the company’s facilities in Jacksonville, Fla,“The testing is currently going well. We expect it to be done later this summer if all things continue as planned. And that’ll be yet another capability that the US Navy will have at its disposal,”

In this video, Defense Updates analyzes why P-8 armed LRASM will add a much-needed punch to the US military?

#defenseupdates #p8poseidon https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/lrasmhttps://www.youtube.com/hashtag/lrasm

Chapters:
00:11 INTRODUCTION
02:04 P-8 POSEIDON OVERVIEW
04:07 P-8 IN ANTI-SHIP ROLE
05:34 LRASM
06:51 ANALYSIS

 

[Scott Kenny]

I mean, LRASM is better than Harpoons (harder to intercept, most importantly), so I'm kinda surprised P8 integration hasn't happened sooner.

 

[bring_it_on]

I mean, LRASM is better than Harpoons (harder to intercept, most importantly), so I'm kinda surprised P8 integration hasn't happened sooner.

Being superior means little if you don't have a sizable inventory. As LRASM inventories have grown (fielded and planned) so has the number of platforms that would be able to deploy it. That's a logical way to prioritize integration.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Being superior means little if you don't have a sizable inventory. As LRASM inventories have grown (fielded and planned) so has the number of platforms that would be able to deploy it. That's a logical way to prioritize integration.

P8s are extremely vulnerable in terms of detection range, so giving them a stealthy means of attacking surface ships would be a priority on my list.

 

[bring_it_on]

P8s are extremely vulnerable in terms of detection range, so giving them a stealthy means of attacking surface ships would be a priority on my list.

The Navy and the Air Force prioritized F/A-18 E/F and B-1B respectively as their primary platforms for the missile when they established the program. Makes sense since the SH was the main strike fighter component for the CVN and upgrading that capability made a ton of sense for the service. P-8, F-35 are all following/will follow now that the inventory has grown and slated to grow further. Seems like a logical way to field the capability knowing that initial batches of LRASM were rather small.

 

[FighterJock]

One question in regards to the P-8 and the LRASM, would they fit inside the P-8s weapons bay? If not then the only way is to carry them on the external hard points.

 

[kqcke for you]

One question in regards to the P-8 and the LRASM, would they fit inside the P-8s weapons bay? If not then the only way is to carry them on the external hard points.

I think it was already mentioned in the article that it only fits on the external hardpoints

 

[Scott Kenny]

One question in regards to the P-8 and the LRASM, would they fit inside the P-8s weapons bay? If not then the only way is to carry them on the external hard points.

Still means they get 4x missiles per bird.

And in general, I wouldn't want to lose the ASW and rescue gear in the weapons bay for a "non-specific patrol" loadout. (Probably 3x torpedoes and 2x lifeboats, maybe 4x torps and 1x lifeboat)

 

[Forest Green]

Air Force awards Lockheed $3.2B multiyear missile contract​

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/agm-158-jassm.1974/post-715152

The sole-source contract is for AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM) and AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) and will include foreign military sales to Japan, the Netherlands, Finland and Poland.

 

[Ainen]

Still means they get 4x missiles per bird.

And in general, I wouldn't want to lose the ASW and rescue gear in the weapons bay for a "non-specific patrol" loadout. (Probably 3x torpedoes and 2x lifeboats, maybe 4x torps and 1x lifeboat)

LRASM under wings probably means it isn't a patrol sortie at all, rather a dedicated strike mission.
Anything else in this case is probably but parasitic weight.

 

[Scott Kenny]

LRASM under wings probably means it isn't a patrol sortie at all, rather a dedicated strike mission.
Anything else in this case is probably but parasitic weight.

4x LRASMs is likely a strike mission, but 2x might not be enough drag to greatly impact range for patrolling.

IIRC P3s used to pack Harpoons under wings all the time for patrol missions.

 

[Ainen]

4x LRASMs is likely a strike mission, but 2x might not be enough drag to greatly impact range for patrolling.

IIRC P3s used to pack Harpoons under wings all the time for patrol missions.

LRASM is a very expensive and quite a heavy weapon, with peculiar(capable, but rather specialized) seeker.
I frankly think that stand off ASCM isn't a right kind of weapon for this mission(maverick/sdb II is more use), and if needed - JSM is a better fit.

 

[FighterJock]

If LRASM is an expensive missile then I could only see it being used for special missions that needed that sort of weapon to be used.