ERAM simplified air-launched missile project
The US military-industrial complex is currently developing several types aviation missile weapons for various purposes. One of the most interesting projects is hidden under the designation ERAM. It provides for the creation of an air-to-surface missile for tactical aviation, capable of demonstrating the highest possible tactical and technical characteristics with minimal complexity and cost.
Impact ammunition
In January 2024, it became known that the US Air Force was going to add a new missile to its arsenal. To do this, they launched a promising program called ERAM (Extended Range Attack Munition).
About a year ago, the US Air Force issued a request for information on the development of such a missile. As it became known later, 16 different American companies were interested in this program. They sent their ideas and proposals to the customer for further study.
Already at the stage of publishing the request for information, the main goals and objectives of the ERAM project became known. Thus, within the framework of the project, it is planned to create a new air-to-surface missile with a special combination of characteristics. It should have the maximum achievable flight data, but at the same time be distinguished by simplicity. It was also necessary to reduce the cost of the product to the possible minimum.
In the middle of last year, new details of the ERAM project became known. At that time, the Pentagon announced that it would become the launch customer for the new missile in the foreseeable future. Such weapon can be provided to land and carrier-based aviation. Possible export to friendly countries was also discussed.

General view of the Quicksink universal guidance unit
At the same time, one of the potential recipients of the new weapon is of the greatest interest. Simplified and cheaper missiles are supposed to be supplied to Ukraine. Its "wind forces" are experiencing a shortage of equipment and weapons of all main types. This problem is proposed to be partially solved by means of a new missile.
Under development
The current status of the ERAM project and its prospects have recently become known. As reported by American media, citing official data and documents, the project is still in its earliest stages. The production and testing of experimental missiles of the new type, not to mention fully-fledged combat-ready products, are still considered an uncertain future.
The Air Force and the participants in the competitive development are currently looking for the optimal appearance of the new missile and determining the possible level of tactical and technical characteristics. Completion of this work will allow the full-fledged design of the missile to begin. Probably, at this stage, the Air Force will decide on the prime contractor for the new project.
The development is planned to be divided into several stages, each of which will pursue its own goals. In particular, it is supposed to successively create several modifications of the rocket, differing in the composition of onboard equipment, technical characteristics, etc.
At the same time, the issue of carriers is being worked out. The Air Force wants to use 10 tactical aircraft of current models in future tests. Now they are waiting for the completion of the conceptual stage of the program, during which the requirements for carriers of the new weapon and the principles of their improvement will be determined.

Modern aircraft missile AGM-154A
It should be noted that the completion dates for the current stage of work have not yet been announced. The Air Force and the Pentagon have made only general statements about the completion of work in the near future. At the same time, the exact date or desired results at this stage are not disclosed. Keeping in mind the specific approach to development, it can be assumed that the finished ERAM missiles will appear no later than next year, and the tests will take a limited time.
The new type of missile is expected to enter service with the US Air Force in the coming years. However, there is every chance that the first batch of new missiles will be sent to Ukraine, and this country will become the main recipient of such weapons. There are also preliminary agreements with Denmark and the Netherlands.
The production rate of the new weapon is planned to be quite high. The Air Force wants the contractor to be able to produce at least 4 missiles in the first 2000 years of production. At the same time, the average monthly output will exceed 40 units - this is quite a lot for the production of modern aircraft weapons.
Desired look
Last year, the Air Force revealed the most basic requirements for the prospective missile. In addition, a slide with a hypothetical image of such a product was published. How the ERAM program participants see the new missile is still unknown. However, it can be assumed that the specified level of characteristics will be achieved due to available developments of various kinds.
The goal of the ERAM project is an air-to-surface missile with a launch weight of 500 pounds (approx. 230 kg). The dimensions, layout and configuration of the missile are to be determined by the developer.

AGM-154C missiles (foreground)
The desired propulsion system type was not specified. The missile must develop a speed of at least 0,6 M. Its range, under optimal conditions, must exceed 250 miles (about 400 km). The product must be equipped with a high-explosive or high-explosive fragmentation warhead. The presence of penetrating ability is welcomed. The mass of the warhead is not specified.
The missile must have reliable control and guidance systems that will allow it to hit the intended stationary or moving targets with a high probability. It is necessary to ensure a circular error probable of no more than 10 m. At the same time, the missile must be guided to the target both under normal conditions and when the enemy uses electronic warfare systems.
There have been recent reports about how the guidance issue will be addressed. The ERAM project is expected to use the Quicksink universal control and guidance unit, recently developed under another US Air Force program. This is a compact device, originally intended for installation on aerial bombs, with the necessary electronics and a set of rudders.
The ERAM project can use a ready-made Quicksink unit or create its own control module based on the units and software of the existing unit. Which option the customer and developers will choose is still unknown.
The range of future carriers of the new missile has not yet been determined. First of all, tactical aircraft built in the USA are being considered. Considering the plans to send missiles abroad, it can be expected that the ERAM product will be compatible with Soviet-style equipment.

AGM-158XR Advanced Cruise Missile
Combined approach
Every customer and developer of aircraft weapons strives to achieve the best technical and combat characteristics, as well as to minimize the cost of the finished product. The ERAM project, developed by order of the US Air Force, is no exception. However, in this case, cost reduction is almost the main task around which the entire concept of the project is built.
The ERAM project is still in its earliest stages, and is currently working on the basic ideas, forming the technical appearance, etc. In addition, the Air Force has not yet selected a company that will develop a full-fledged technical project and produce the new weapon.
For obvious reasons, the Pentagon does not disclose all the details of the current work and the project being developed. However, even the available information allows us to understand what the new ERAM missile will be like and how it is planned to solve the main tasks of the project. The disclosed ideas and solutions generally look viable and will probably allow us to create a weapon with the desired ratio of parameters.
This would give the Air Force and possibly the Navy a new air-to-surface munition that performs as well as existing weapons but is cheaper to produce and operate. The ERAM missile could complement other weapons in the arsenal and improve the economics of air combat operations, at least without significant loss of effectiveness.
However, the current stage of the ERAM program development should limit optimism. The project is far from complete, and unforeseen complications may arise during its development. Depending on the nature of these problems and other factors, they may lead to a decrease in the actual characteristics and/or an increase in the cost of the rocket. A negative scenario in which all parameters go beyond acceptable limits cannot be ruled out.
Thus, the new American ERAM program is interesting at the theoretical level and promises very interesting results. However, everything will depend on the current work and its success. Perhaps the task of simplifying and reducing the cost of the product will be more difficult than its authors expect.
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