{{Short description|American aerial stand-off munition}} The '''Extended Range Attack Munition''' ('''ERAM''') is a United States Air Force (USAF) development program for a low-cost precision-guided air-launched stand-off munition which started in August 2024.<ref name=avw-20250905/> The weapon is expected to enter service in late 2026.
==Design== Two separate designs by non-traditional defense companies CoAspire and Zone 5 Technologies will be manufactured. The USAF issued contracts for the ERAM in October 2024 and both designs made a first flight four months later. The program has a $225 million budget, and is managed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Armament Directorate.<ref name=avw-20250905/>
The ERAM is described as a hybrid between a cruise missile and an advanced guided bomb, carrying a {{convert|500|lb}} warhead to a range of up to {{convert|280|mile}}, at speeds of at least {{cvt|430|mph}}.<ref name=telegraph-20250829>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/08/29/trump-sends-thousands-cheap-powerful-missiles-ukraine/ |title=Trump sends thousands of 'cheap and powerful' missiles to Ukraine |last=Cleave |first=Iona |website=The Telegraph |location=London |url-access=subscription |date=29 August 2025 |access-date=8 September 2025}}</ref>
The requirements are in line with Boeing's PJDAM (a powered derivative of the JDAM), a powered version of Raytheon’s Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW) glide bomb, or those of Northrop Grumman's "Gray Wolf" design.<ref name=twz-20250711>{{cite web |title=Air Force's Cheap And Fast To Produce Long-Range Missile Is Being Built For Ukraine |url=https://www.twz.com/air/air-forces-cheap-and-fast-to-produce-long-range-missile-is-being-built-for-ukraine |last=Trevithick |first=Joseph |website=The War Zone |date=11 July 2025 |access-date=7 September 2025}}</ref> The two designs currently being evaluated are Zone 5 Technologies AGM-188 and Anduril Industries AGM-189.
==Delivery plans== It is planned to deliver a first batch of 840 ERAMs in October 2026. Ukraine will receive some of this batch for use in the Russo-Ukrainian War, and is cleared to purchase up to 3,350 ERAMs including spares and support equipment for an estimated cost of $825 million.<ref name=avw-20250905>{{cite news |url=https://aviationweek.com/defense/missile-defense-weapons/us-innovation-hurries-new-cruise-missile-ukraine |title=U.S. Innovation Hurries New Cruise Missile To Ukraine |last=Trimble |first=Steve |magazine=Aviation Week |date=5 September 2025 |access-date=7 September 2025}}</ref><ref name=reuters-20250828>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-state-department-approves-potential-sale-air-launched-cruise-missiles-ukraine-2025-08-28/ |title=US State Department approves potential sale of air-launched cruise missiles to Ukraine |last1=Stone |first1=Mike |last2=Jones |first2=Ryan Patrick |publisher=Reuters |url-access=limited |date=28 August 2025 |access-date=7 September 2025}}</ref> Ukraine is expected to use funding from Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and United States Foreign Military Financing for the purchase.<ref name=dsca-20250828>{{cite web |url=https://www.dsca.mil/Press-Media/Major-Arms-Sales/Article-Display/Article/4289280/ukraine-air-delivered-munitions |title=Ukraine – Air Delivered Munitions |website=Defense Security Cooperation Agency |date=28 August 2025 |access-date=7 September 2025}}</ref>
== See also == *Multi-mission Affordable Capacity Effector *GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb
== References == {{reflist}}
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Category:Military electronics of the United States Category:Guided bombs of the United States Category:Military equipment introduced in the 2020s
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