Wed Sep 25 07:43:40 UTC 2024: ## F-35C Takes First Flight with Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile
**Patuxent River, MD** – The U.S. Navy has successfully completed the first test flights of the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) integrated with the F-35C fighter jet. The flights, which took place on September 9th and 10th, 2024, mark the beginning of a critical phase in certifying the F-35C to carry the LRASM.
The “captive carriage” trials, conducted by the Pax River F-35 Integrated Test Force, focused on evaluating the weapon’s impact on the aircraft’s flight characteristics and structural integrity. Images released by the Navy show the F-35C carrying two LRASMs externally on its wing hardpoints, along with two inert AIM-9X missiles on the wingtips.
The LRASM, a derivative of the JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile), is crucial for countering the growing threat posed by the Chinese Navy in the Pacific. This test marks a significant step towards enhancing the U.S.’s anti-ship capabilities in the region.
“The LRASM provides flexible, long-range, advanced, anti-surface capability against high-threat maritime targets,” stated the Pax River ITF.
Future testing will include in-flight drop tests to assess the weapon’s separation behavior and ultimately, full weapon testing to validate its entire engagement profile.
While the F-35C can’t carry the LRASM internally, the Navy is pursuing a longer-range version of the missile that could potentially fit within the aircraft’s weapons bays. The LRASM’s semi-autonomous guidance system allows it to evade enemy air defenses and accurately target specific ships.
The successful integration of the LRASM with the F-35C further solidifies the aircraft’s role as a key component of the U.S. Navy’s evolving strategy for the Pacific theater.
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