Australia’s Department of Defence has cleared the Royal Australian Air Force to use the AGM-158B JASSM-ER and AGM-158C LRASM on F/A-18F Super Hornets, giving the fleet long-range strike options against both land and maritime targets. The initial operational capability decision follows live-fire testing and operational trials across the Point Mugu Sea Range in California and the Woomera Test Range in South Australia.
Defence validated weapons preparation and loading, targeting and weapon engagement during the programme, which included LRASM firings in February 2025 and JASSM-ER firings in November 2025. The JASSM-ER has a land-attack range of about 900 km, while LRASM is designed for anti-ship strikes at ranges above 370 km.
The weapons are now available for operational use from the Super Hornet force, extending the aircraft’s reach beyond contested air defences and strengthening Australia’s maritime denial and regional deterrence posture. A P-8A Poseidon also fired an LRASM during RIMPAC 2026, indicating wider Australian adoption of the missile family across the air combat and surveillance fleet.