LRASM Production Boosted with $53 Million Pentagon Contract
ORLANDO, Florida – The U.S. Department of War has authorized a $53.1 million contract modification for Lockheed Martin to expand production of the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), a key component in the Pentagon’s strategy to counter maritime threats. The funding will be used for tooling and test equipment, ensuring missile inventories meet operational demands across various combat platforms.
The contract, a modification to an existing agreement originally signed in 2019, brings the total value of the LRASM program to $462.9 million, according to a recent announcement. Work will be conducted at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Orlando, Florida, with completion expected by November 29, 2028. The funds allocated stem from fiscal year 2025 U.S. Navy production budgets.
LRASM is designed to target enemy surface vessels in challenging maritime environments. Developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the missile distinguishes itself through its autonomous targeting capabilities. Unlike older anti-ship missiles reliant on external data, LRASM utilizes onboard sensors and target recognition systems, enabling it to identify and engage ships even with disrupted communications or navigation.
“This investment underscores the importance of LRASM in maintaining a credible deterrent in increasingly contested waters,” explained a statement from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Eglin Air Force Base, which is managing the program.
The LRASM program is part of a broader U.S. effort to field long-range strike systems. The missile can be deployed from multiple aircraft used by both the Air Force and Navy.
This latest contract follows a separate $50.5 million award to Lockheed Martin in February 2026 for the continued procurement of both LRASM and its sister missile, the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). That award increased the cumulative value of the JASSM/LRASM procurement contract to nearly $9.63 billion.
Large Lot Procurement programs, like the one supporting JASSM and LRASM, allow the military to secure missiles in greater quantities through multi-year production arrangements, ensuring manufacturing continuity and consistent inventory levels. These arrangements involve periodic contract modifications to adjust funding and expand production capacity as demand evolves.
