The United States has approved the sale of AGM-158B Joint Air-To-Surface Stand-off Missile – Extended Range (JASSM-ER) weapons to Italy, reinforcing the country’s long-range strike capabilities and its role within NATO’s collective defence framework.
The approval was announced on 5 December by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which confirmed that the Department of State had authorised the potential sale of up to 100 air-launched cruise missiles.
According to the DSCA, the deal is estimated to be worth USD 301 million and includes not only the missiles themselves but also associated support, logistics, and programme services required for integration and sustainment.
“The proposed sale will improve Italy’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing stand-off capability via advanced, long-range strike systems,” the agency said in an official statement.
The DSCA added that the weapons will be compatible with Italian fighter aircraft, “including but not limited to” the Lockheed Martin F-35, which forms a growing part of Italy’s modernised air combat fleet.
JASSM-ER is the extended-range variant of the US-made AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile, designed to strike heavily defended, high-value targets from significant distances.
The missile is regarded as a stealthy, next-generation weapon, featuring a low-observable airframe intended to reduce detection by enemy radar systems during its flight to the target.
For mid-course navigation, the JASSM relies on an inertial navigation system combined with GPS guidance, derived from technologies developed for the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and the Joint Stand-off Weapon (JSOW).
This guidance package allows the missile to follow precise pre-programmed flight paths while operating at varying cruise altitudes, ranging from high-level profiles to low-level flight as low as approximately 1,600 feet.
In its terminal phase, the missile transitions into a steep dive toward the target, using an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker to identify and lock on to its aim point with high accuracy.
The weapon is fitted with a WDU-42/B (J-1000) penetration and blast fragmentation warhead, designed to destroy hardened or well-protected targets through a combination of kinetic penetration and explosive force.
The baseline JASSM has a reported operational range of around 370 kilometres, already allowing strike aircraft to engage targets without entering heavily defended airspace.
However, the JASSM-ER significantly extends this capability, with a range approaching 1,000 kilometres, achieved through the integration of a more efficient turbofan engine and increased onboard fuel capacity.
This extended reach enables aircraft such as the F-35 to launch precision strikes from well outside the range of many surface-to-air missile systems, enhancing survivability for pilots and platforms.
For Italy, the acquisition aligns with broader efforts to modernise its armed forces and improve interoperability with US and allied military systems.
Rome has invested heavily in fifth-generation aircraft, including the F-35A and F-35B, positioning itself as a key European operator of advanced airpower capabilities.
The US government emphasised that the proposed sale will not alter the basic military balance in the region, while underlining that Italy is a longstanding and reliable NATO ally.
If finalised, the deal will further integrate Italy into the US-led ecosystem of precision-guided long-range strike capabilities, reflecting growing emphasis among NATO members on deterrence and rapid response options.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members