- US Marines added a new long-range cruise missile to their arsenal.
- The AGM-158A joint air-to-surface standoff missile was loaded on an F/A-18 Hornet in late August.
The US Marine Corps has a new long-range weapon in its arsenal, the AGM-158A joint air-to-surface standoff missile (JASSM).
The addition is a boost in firepower, the Marines said, as the weapon's long range allows it to strike targets from well outside the reach of enemy air defenses.
Late last month, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11 and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 became the first in the service branch to conduct ordnance operations with the AGM-158A, loading the weapon on an F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, per a press release.
The "conventional, stealthy, air launched ground attack cruise missile," the Marines said, boasts a range of 230 miles. It saw its first use in combat back in 2018 when US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers fired AGM-158As to destroy a Syrian chemical weapons manufacturer.
The weapon's range is particularly valuable amid a growing need for stand-off capabilities. "The integration of the AGM-158A joint air-to-surface standoff missile into the F/A-18's arsenal significantly enhances the Hornet's capabilities, enabling it to strike targets from well beyond the reach of enemy air defenses," Maj. Bradley Kirby, an aviation ordnance officer with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, said.
Stand-off weapons, like the AGM-158, are useful for striking the enemy from further distances without exposing aircraft to air defense systems, and in this case, the weapon's stealth and programming capabilities make them difficult to shoot down.
There's a reason for the interest in the JASSM for Ukraine as it battles the Russians, though it's unclear at this time if that capability is on the table. "The JASSM not only surpasses the capabilities of any other weapon currently in the Hornet's extensive weapons portfolio, but also the Marine Corps at large," Kirby said.
The AGM-158 is manufactured by Lockheed Martin, and can also be used on F-35B and F-35C aircraft. It has an extended range version, the AGM-158B, and an anti-ship version, the AGM-158C. The Marines are in the process of acquiring both of those variants.