The US is developing a revolutionary LRAM barrage munition with a range of hundreds of kilometres for the F-35 Lightning II, M-22 Osprey and even HIMARS

The US Marine Corps is armed with Hellfire missiles. However, the military service needs longer-range weapons. Work is already underway.

Here's What We Know

The Marines want a long-range barrage munition called the Long-Range Attack Munition (LRAM). It will be able to hit a target within a range of hundreds of kilometres, which would take out aerial platforms that are now armed with Hellfire missiles.

The AGM-114 has a launch range of about 8 km, so helicopters must penetrate the enemy's air defence system to strike. LRAM should solve this problem.

The Marine Corps intends to use LRAM on CH-53K and H-1 helicopters, F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets, C-130 aircraft and MV-22 convertible aircraft. The M142 HIMARS missile system and the LRUSV (Long-Range Unmanned Surface Vessel) unmanned maritime platform are also candidates.

The technical specifications of the LRAM are not yet known. Apparently, the US Marine Corps is developing the weapon from scratch, as existing barrage munitions do not have a range of hundreds of kilometres.

Source: Naval News