Poland to purchase 70 long-range JASSM-ER cruise missiles
On 28 November, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the U.S. Congress on the pending sale of 70 Lockheed Martin AGM-158B JASSM-ERs (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles Extended Range) missiles to Poland. The estimated cost of delivery is $200 million. The delivery will also include several training missiles, as well as training missile guidance and training systems.
The JASSM-ER missiles will be integrated into the Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 52+ aircraft of the Polish Air Force. A high precision cruise missile, the AGM-158B JASSM-ER, has been operational in the U.S. Air Force since 2014, and has a maximum flight distance estimated at 900 to 1000 km. Poland will become the first known foreign customer to receive the JASSM-ERs.
According to Polish media, the JASSM-ER missiles purchased by Poland will be supplied no earlier than 2020.
According to the inter-governmental agreement with the U.S.A. since December 2014, Poland has purchased 40 long range cruise missiles (AGM-158А JASSMs), with a maximum range up to 360-400 km. The cost of the agreement, including the work on the integration of the JASSMs into Polish Air Force fighter aircraft, is $250 million. The supply of JASSMs to Poland will take place between 2016 and 2019. The operational readiness of the first JASSMs on the Polish Air Force fighters is expected by the end of 2017.
In the past, the AGM-158А JASSM missiles, which have been utilized by the U.S. Air Force since 2003, have also been purchased by Australia (since 2007) and Finland (supplies are expected to begin this year).