Several days ago, I wrote an article DARPA’s newest and most advanced anti-ship missile. I mentioned briefly that integration of the missile onto an F-35 was a work in progress. As of March 4th, it is no longer a work in progress. Lockheed Martin’s recent announcement about the successful integration of the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) with the F-35B Lightning II is a significant milestone in military aviation and defense technology.
This event marks a critical advancement in the capabilities of the F-35B, enhancing its role as a versatile and formidable asset in modern warfare.
F-35s Can Carry LRASMs Now
On March 4, 2025, Lockheed Martin, in collaboration with the F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF), completed an initial flight test that integrated the AGM-158C LRASM onto the F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet.
This test follows a similar integration flight test of the LRASM on the F-35C in September 2024.
The LRASM is a precision-guided, anti-ship standoff missile designed to engage a variety of surface threats from a considerable distance.
The integration of the LRASM with the F-35B is part of the F-35’s Block 4 upgrade, which aims to add more multi-role mission capabilities to the aircraft. The LRASM, along with the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), is being integrated for external carriage on the F-35, enhancing its reach and lethality against heavily protected, strategic targets.
This integration is a critical step toward bringing advanced technology to America’s warfighters, ensuring that the F-35 remains a dominant force in the skies for decades to come.
The LRASM is a stealthy, precision-guided missile that can autonomously navigate to its target and deliver a precise payload from a safe, standoff range. It is designed to operate in contested environments, reducing dependence on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, network links, and GPS navigation.
The missile uses an infrared sensor system for improved target acquisition capability.
During the initial flight test, the F-35B carried two LRASMs on its innermost wing hardpoints, in addition to two inert AIM-9X missiles on the wingtips. This configuration is similar to the one used by the F-35C during its test in September 2024.
The successful integration of the LRASM with the F-35B marks the beginning of the F-35B AGM-158 strike systems flight sciences test program.
Geopolitical Implications
The integration of the LRASM with the F-35B has significant geopolitical implications, particularly in the context of the ongoing strategic competition between the United States and China.
The LRASM’s enhances the U.S. military’s ability to project power and maintain a credible deterrent against potential adversaries.
The LRASM’s long-range, precision-strike capabilities make it a formidable weapon against heavily defended targets, such as enemy warships and coastal installations. This capability is particularly relevant in the Indo-Pacific region, where the U.S. seeks to counter China’s growing naval power and assertiveness.
The successful integration of the LRASM with the F-35B sends a strong strategic message to China and other potential adversaries. It demonstrates the U.S. commitment to maintaining technological superiority and enhancing its military capabilities.
Japan F-35B Rollout Ceremony.
This development is likely to be closely monitored by Chinese military planners, who may view it as a challenge to their own anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategies.
China Should be Concerned
China has invested heavily in developing its own anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), such as the DF-21D and DF-26, which are designed to target U.S. aircraft carriers and other high-value assets.
The integration of the LRASM with the F-35B complicates China’s strategic calculations by providing the U.S. with a potent countermeasure to these threats. The LRASM’s ability to strike from long distances and evade detection makes it a valuable asset in countering China’s A2/AD capabilities.
The integration of the LRASM with the F-35B is likely to influence regional security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. U.S. allies and partners in the region, such as Japan, South Korea, and Australia, may view this development as a positive step toward enhancing collective security and deterring potential aggression.
Conversely, China may perceive this as an escalation, prompting it to accelerate its own military modernization efforts and seek ways to counter the enhanced capabilities of the F-35B.
The integration of advanced weapon systems like the LRASM with the F-35B could contribute to an arms race in the region. As the U.S. continues to enhance its military capabilities, China is likely to respond by developing and deploying its own advanced weapon systems.
This dynamic could lead to increased military spending and heightened tensions, raising the risk of miscalculation and conflict.
The successful integration of the LRASM with the F-35B represents a significant advancement in military technology and has far-reaching geopolitical implications. It enhances the U.S. military’s ability to project power and maintain a credible deterrent, while also sending a strong strategic message to potential adversaries, particularly China.
As the U.S. and China continue to compete for technological and military superiority, developments like this will play a crucial role in shaping the future security landscape of the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a 19FortyFive Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
