Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force has issued a contract to Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control for production of three Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles.

The contract, issued Friday by the Department of Defense, covers Lot Two production of three LRASMs at a cost of $10.3 million. The order is being covered with Air Force fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds, with work expected to be completed by February 2020.


Lockheed was awarded a $172 million contract in November for Lot 2 production of 50 LRASMs, with the missile expected to be integrated with the F/A-18 Super Hornet sometime in 2019 and, eventually, with the F-35.

The LRASM is based somewhat on the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range, or JASSM-ER, which includes a semi-stealth airframe designed to make it difficult for enemy radar and weapons to detect and track.

The LRASM has multi-modal sensors and is GPS-guided, as well as being capable of detecting and selecting pre-programmed enemy vessels without outside guidance.