U.S. Shows Interest in Missile Concept Being Developed for Ukraine

The U.S. Air Force is exploring the development of an affordable, mass-produced air-launched cruise missile inspired by the ERAM concept currently being created for Ukraine.

According to Aviation Week, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center has begun seeking potential contractors for a new initiative known as the Lugged Affordable Cruise Missile, or LACM.

The aim of the program is to design a missile that can be deployed from fighter jets using standard wing pylons or internal weapons bays, offering a flexible and cost-effective solution for modern aerial combat needs.

The specifications outlined in the request for the LACM closely align with the known features of the “Extended-Range Attack Missile” (ERAM) project — a low-cost, mass-producible cruise missile originally developed specifically for Ukrainian fighter jets.

The ERAM program envisioned a missile equipped with a 500-pound (227 kg) warhead and a multi-mode fuze capable of delivering optional high-penetration effects. The missile was designed to fly at speeds exceeding 0.6 Mach, with a range of over 450 kilometers, and maintain precision targeting with an accuracy of up to 10 meters, even in environments without satellite navigation.

A key requirement of the project was to develop a design that would allow production of thousands of units within 24 months of signing the contract.

The LACM request incorporates all the requirements of the ERAM project, with the exception of its speed parameters. Additionally, the missile must be capable of flying at low altitudes (no higher than 300 meters) and approaching the target at an angle of over 70 degrees. The maximum estimated cost for such a system is $300,000.

Aviation Week notes that, according to ERAM project expenditure documents, the Air Force already has at least three potential contenders for participation in the LACM program:

• Anduril with its Barracuda-500M missile;
• Zone 5 Technologies with the Rusty Dagger missile;
• CoAspire, which has received contracts for research and development under the Rapidly Adaptable Affordable Cruise Missile project (RAACM).

However, if the competition is not limited to these companies, other players may also join the program. For example, L3Harris Technologies has announced that it was considering participation in the LACM project and was then reviewing the request’s requirements.

Recently, L3Harris Technologies unveiled its long-range Red Wolf missile for the U.S. Marine Corps, which features a slightly lighter warhead. However, this is not considered a critical drawback due to the missile’s modular design.

Last month, the U.S. Air Force, together with the Navy, allocated budget funds for the procurement of the new AIM-260 long-range air-to-air missile.