Lockheed Martin has been awarded $750.55m to produce a new batch of AGM-158B-2 JASSM aircraft with a range of nearly 1,000km for the US and Australia

US defence company Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract to produce the AGM-158B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). The deal was announced on the official website of the US Department of Defence.

Here's What We Know

The deal amounted to approximately $750.55 million. The cost and number of missiles were not specified. According to public sources, the AGM-158B-2 JASSM was priced at over $1.25 million per unit in fiscal year (FY) 2021. The agreement also includes production of spare parts and related equipment.

The B-2 version is an extended-range missile, i.e. JASSM-ER. It can hit targets at a maximum range of nearly 1,000 km. In flight, the missile is capable of reaching speeds of up to 1000 km/h (Mach 0.85).

JASSM customers include the US Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Australian government has recently approved the purchase of the JASS-ER. The funding will be AU$558 million ($380 million) over five years.

Work on the contract will take place at Lockheed Martin plants in Alabama and Florida until 18 August 2027. The sale of the JASSM-ER to Australia is under the US Military Sales Program (FMS) under the Arms Export Control Act. Australia will arm the new missile with F-35A Lightning II and F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters.

Source: Pentagon