RAAF Declares Initial Operational Capability for JASSM-ER and LRASM
Australia's air force has reached initial operational capability with two long-range strike missiles after successful tests from F/A-18F and P-8A aircraft.
The Royal Australian Air Force has declared initial operational capability for the AGM-158B JASSM-ER and AGM-158C LRASM missiles, according to the Department of Defence. The milestone follows successful test firings of both weapons.
In February 2025, two LRASMs were test fired from an F/A-18F Super Hornet at the Point Mugu Sea Range in the United States. A pair of JASSM-ERs were later tested at Australia's Woomera test range from the same aircraft type.
The RAAF also hit a target with LRASM from a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft during the Rim of the Pacific 2026 exercise. Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, chief of the RAAF, said the Super Hornet has shown it can conduct long-range strikes against targets with advanced air defences. He added that acquiring both missile types will increase the lethality of Australia's combat aircraft and help them avoid increasingly sophisticated air defences.
Sources
- flightglobal.comRAAF validates long-range strike capabilities for F/A-18F, P-8A