The U.S. Navy, with support from Lockheed Martin, has completed the first phase of the F-35C LRASM flight science test program following a series of integrated flight tests from September 2024 to April 2026.
Lockheed Martin announced June 10, 2026 that the U.S. Navy has completed Phase 1 of the F-35C LRASM flight science test program. The program saw the Navy and the company collaborate on a series of integrated flight tests using the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) from September 2024 to April 2026.
The company said the test program continues its plans for full integration of LRASM on the F-35C. The Air Force released the first photos of the weapon mounted on the F-35C Lightning II in late September 2024, shortly after testing began, showing the weapon being carried externally because it cannot be transported inside the weapons bay due to its size.
Lockheed Martin described the test as being able to verify the aircraft’s behavior using heavy external storage throughout its flight range. These tests are commonly referred to as ‘captive carriage’ tests and are intended to test the impact of weapons on the airframe at various flight ranges and parameters, as well as verify the core structural integrity of the system.
This represents the first phase of actual flight testing before moving on to in-flight drop testing to evaluate the weapon’s behavior during separation and full weapon testing to confirm the overall engagement profile. Details regarding the final Life Fire campaign have not been released to date.
The company also explained that both LRASM and Joint Air-to-Surface Missile (JASSM) test assets are being used during testing of the LRASM program. As previously explained here aeronauticsBoth weapons share the same base airframe, with the differences primarily being internal.
“By integrating LRASM into the F-35, we are providing warfighters with a powerful capability that improves mission flexibility and expands operational options,” said Jon Hill, vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Air Dominance and Strike Weapons. As the company noted in a press release, adding the AGM-158 LRASM to the F-35’s arsenal will provide the same standoff strike capability against modern naval threats currently equipped on the B-1B Lancer strategic bomber and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet carrier-based fighter aircraft.
AGM-158C LRASM
The AGM-158C LRASM, based on the AGM-158B JASSM-ER (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range), is a new low-observable anti-ship cruise missile developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. NAVAIR describes the weapon as a defined near-term solution to the Offensive Anti-Ship Warfare (OASuW) air launch capability gap that will provide flexible, long-range, advanced anti-surface capabilities against high-threat maritime targets.
NAVAIR says the weapon reduces reliance on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, network links and GPS navigation in an electronic warfare environment. In fact, once launched, LRASM uses a GPS guidance system to guide it to an initial point and uses onboard sensors to locate and identify targets and provide terminal guidance. Semi-autonomous guidance algorithms allow you to pinpoint specific targets in contested areas using less accurate target signal data.
There are currently three variants that make up the OASuW Increment 1 program, designated LRASM 1.0, LRASM 1.1, and LRASM C-3. The LRASM 1.0 variant, with initial operational capability in 2019, has already been integrated into the B-1B Lancer and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
The latest LRASM 1.1 variant was deployed in 2023 and is undergoing initial operational testing and evaluation, according to a report from the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation. This weapon is also being integrated into the P-8A Poseidon.
For the future LRASM C-3 adding extended range capabilities, the program planned a ground strike capability as part of the LRASM C-3 upgrade, but later decided to continue focusing on a surface warfare capability. The missile operational concept and system requirements were completed last year, including a focus on anti-surface warfare operational envelope and updating the missile target threat library compared to LRASM 1.1.
The Navy plans LRASM C-3 Early Operational Capability (EOC) in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense continues to plan to develop OASuW Increment 2 through a fully open competition, with EOC expected in FY29 and initial operational capability expected in FY31. The Navy funded LRASM C-3 to bridge the gap until the OASuW Increment 2 program of record was established.
In September 2024, an F-35C test aircraft from Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland conducted the first test flight for AGM-158 integration in both JASSM and LRASM variants. In January 2025, the same test was conducted on the F-35B.
In January 2025, NAVAIR announced that the U.S. Air Force’s F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15EX Eagle II will now be equipped with LRASM. Subsequently, in March 2025, it was revealed that this weapon was also integrated into the F-16.
