US and Dutch officials have formalised a letter of offer and acceptance (LoA) agreement to purchase the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range (JASSM-ER), manufacturer Lockheed Martin announced on 29 July 2024.
The Netherlands thus becomes the fifth international customer for JASSM after Australia, Finland, Poland and Japan.
The US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sales request from the Netherlands to buy 120 AGM-158B/B-2 JASSM-ER missiles worth USD 908 million (EUR 837.5 million) on 5 February 2024.
The weapons will be used to arm the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s fleet of F-35A Joint Strike Fighters.
“We’re honoured to partner with the US government to provide the Netherlands armed forces with the combat-proven and mission-effective weapon system to meet their ever-evolving strategic defense needs.” Scott Redmerski, JASSM programme director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, was quoted as saying in a company press release.
The latest generation of JASSM-ER includes enhancements to hardware and software, providing increased capabilities and more flexible options to meet evolving mission requirements. The missile is designed to destroy high-value, well-defended, fixed and relocatable targets from significant stand-off range, keeping aircrews well out of danger from hostile air defence systems without compromise to lethality or reach.
The AGM-158B JASSM-ER can deliver a 1,000 lb (454 kg) warhead to a range of up to 575 miles (925 km), while the longer-range AGM-158B-2 has a warhead weighing 2,000 lb (907 kg) and a range of 1,200 miles (1,931 km).
