The missile is specifically designed to counter China's growing power in the Indo-Pacific region. It is a fairly autonomous weapon that can operate in difficult conditions for electronics, providing a key advantage in a potential confrontation with the PRC.
America is facing a significant change in the strategic environment since the glory days of the Cold War, when the Soviet Union was bloodlessly defeated. No longer the only military power with global reach, the United States has faced at least two other close rivals: the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Russian Federation.
In addition to these two rivals, Washington has to deal with threats from a multitude of smaller states, in some cases rogue states such as North Korea, Iran, or Venezuela.
Focus translated an article by military analyst Brandon J. Weichert on the American long-range anti-ship missile AGM-158C.
One of the biggest challenges complicating the ability of American military forces to project force into contested regions of the world is the emergence of access denial/access denial (A2/AD) systems. By launching large numbers of missiles (even hypersonic) over long distances that can detect, track, destroy, or damage U.S. surface warships and air bases, such A2/AD systems are well-equipped to deny U.S. military access to desired regions.
This is especially relevant in light of the Sino-Taiwan conflict.
A New Great American Long-Range Missile
Introducing the Lockheed Martin AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), developed in close collaboration with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The LRASM missile has a powerful anti-ship capability, as well as stealth features and autonomous guidance systems capable of hitting targets at very long ranges.
Indeed, given the missile's focus on stealthy destruction of maritime targets at longer ranges than other American systems, it is likely that it is specifically designed to challenge China's growing power in the Indo-Pacific region.
The LRASM has several unique features. Among them is autonomous targeting, which means the missile can operate with minimal external support or input. Once fired, the LRASM can navigate to the target area using a combination of jamming-resistant GPS/INS guidance systems, infrared seekers, and passive electronic support.
This autonomy of the LRASM means the weapon can operate in challenging electronics environments, and provides a key advantage in a potential confrontation with China over Taiwan or control of the South China Sea.
LRASM's developers focused on stealth technology, reducing the missile's radar cross-section so it can evade sophisticated enemy defenses. The missile can fly at medium altitude and then descend to enter the sea, making it difficult to detect and intercept. The missile's ability to avoid obstacles and change its flight path makes this weapon even more powerful – even against China's increasingly sophisticated defenses.
What we know about LRASM
The Pentagon is keeping details about the missile under wraps, but the LRASM is believed to have a longer range than the Harpoon, likely increasing its potential strike area by 370 km. While this increased range certainly increases the LRASM's power over older systems like the Harpoon, the fact remains that this weapon was developed precisely because other avenues of attack were closed off by innovative defenses by Chinese military planners.
As for the LRASM's payload, it is believed that this system can destroy large targets, such as aircraft carriers or guided missile cruisers, which China is building in large numbers.
The LRASM can be launched from a variety of American platforms, including the B-1B Lancer, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, F-35 Lightning II, and P-8A Poseidon, making this weapon a formidable addition to America's depleted arsenal (let's hope that the defense industrial base can mass-produce enough of these systems, justifying the time and money invested in their development).
If sufficient numbers of such systems can be created, then, given the possibility of their launch from different American platforms, the simultaneous launch of such missiles from several carriers will significantly complicate the Chinese military's ability to protect the ships they are aimed at.
Quantity, not quality
Any confrontation with China will depend on quantity. China has already demonstrated its commitment to the concept that quantity has its own quality. Meanwhile, the Americans seem intent on refuting this paradigm.
Unfortunately, as the Americans and their allies proved in World War II – especially in the European theater of operations, – a vast number of cheaper, primitive systems are quite capable of defeating an army with fewer sophisticated equipment.
The LRASM was designed to rely more on accuracy than on mass. But the United States needs both, especially with a system like the AGM-158C LRASM.
About the author
Brandon J. Weichert is a national security analyst at the National Interest, a former congressional staffer, and a geopolitical analyst who writes for The Washington Times, Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China's Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran's Quest for Supremacy. His new book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is now available in bookstores. You can follow Weichert on Twitter: @WeTheBrandon.