The US State Department has formally approved a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Government of Italy for 100 AGM-158B/B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range (JASSM-ER). The estimated cost for this strategic weapons package, which includes related equipment and support, is $301 million. This clearance marks a significant leap in Italy’s air combat power, equipping its fighter fleet, particularly the F-35s, with a crucial deep-strike, stand-off capability.
JASSM-ER: The Long-Range Precision Edge
The JASSM-ER is a sophisticated, low-observable, air-launched cruise missile designed to penetrate modern integrated air defense systems (IADS). Its primary role is to destroy high-value, well-defended, fixed, and relocatable targets from a significant stand-off range—estimated at approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). This long range allows the launching aircraft to remain far outside the engagement zones of most hostile surface-to-air missile systems, drastically increasing the survivability of Italian aircrews.
Key specifications and components of the sale include:
* Missile Type: 100 AGM-158B/B-2 JASSM-ER missiles, which utilize a turbofan engine for extended range.
* Guidance: Precision-guided using an INS/GPS unit for mid-course navigation and an Infrared (IIR) seeker for pinpoint terminal guidance.
* Payload: A 1,000-pound (450 kg) WDU-42/B penetrating and blast-fragmentation warhead.
The proposed sale also covers JASSM classified test equipment, KGV-135A encryption devices, classified software, technical documentation, and comprehensive logistics support. Lockheed Martin, the missile’s manufacturer, will serve as the principal contractor.
Recasting Italy’s F-35 Fleet
The acquisition of the JASSM-ER is more than a simple upgrade; it is a step change in how Italy positions itself within NATO’s deep-strike architecture. By pairing this advanced missile with its growing fleet of fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets, Italy moves beyond a purely tactical strike capability to a more survivable, long-range conventional deterrent.
The ability to launch a stealthy cruise missile from a massive distance transforms Italy’s F-35s into strategic strike assets capable of operating effectively in heavily contested airspace and threatening strategic infrastructure. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) confirmed to Congress that the sale would “improve Italy’s capability to meet current and future threats” and reinforce its role as a “force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.” The move aligns Italy with other key European allies, such as Finland and Poland, that have already integrated the JASSM-ER, further ensuring military interoperability and shared deterrence capabilities across NATO’s southern flank.
