Lockheed Martin Corp. has received a $51 million contract for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extreme Range (JASSM-XR), the U.S. Department of Defense said in a 10 September statement.

The contract, announced Monday by the Department of Defense (DoD), includes all all-up round level systems engineering and programmatic activities to align and phase the work necessary to design, develop, integrate, test, and verify component and subsystem design changes to the JASSM-XR baseline electronics, hardware, firmware, and operational flight software.

JASSM-XR cruise missile will also include preparation for final all-up round integration, system-level ground and flight testing, qualification, and incorporation into a future production baseline engineering change proposal, also noted DoD.

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This effort will concurrently mature a new missile control unit and necessary hardware and infrastructure to support future JASSM-XR production cut in. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2023.

Early, Lockheed Martin reported that JASSM-XR variant will have the range to over 1,000 miles, but would only be carried on bombers and heavy strike aircraft.

Also claimed that the JASSM-XR warhead, which would probably be lighter than the current J-1000 dual-purpose (blast-fragmentation/penetration) payload, would be able to pierce more than 7.5m of reinforced concrete. Options under consideration include boosted-penetrator designs.

According to the Lockheed Martin, JASSM series is a long-range, conventional, air-to-ground, precision standoff missile for the U.S. and allied forces. Designed to destroy high-value, well-defended, fixed and relocatable targets, JASSM’s significant standoff range keeps aircrews well out of danger from hostile air defense systems.

The JASSM was first employed during the 14 April 2018 missile strikes against Syria during the Syrian Civil War. Two B-1 Lancers fired a total of 19 JASSMs as part of strikes against three Syrian government alleged chemical weapons targets.