US ERAM missiles to be sent to Ukraine?
Conventional image missiles, which illustrated the first news about the ERAM program. US Department of Defense graphics
According to the American press, the US leadership is considering the possibility of supplying ERAM-type air-to-surface guided missiles to Ukraine. It is proposed to sell a large number of such products, which should change the potential of the Ukrainian combat aviationHowever, the information disclosed raises questions and casts doubt on its veracity.
From unnamed sources
On August 23, the American publication The Wall Street Journal reported on new plans of the US military and political leadership in the context of aid to Ukraine. It allegedly received this curious information from two unnamed sources in high circles familiar with the situation. However, the published data has not yet received official confirmation.
The WSJ claims that the White House has reviewed and approved the proposal to supply Kyiv with ERAM-type air-to-air missiles. Bureaucratic and other issues should be resolved soon, after which deliveries will begin. The first batch of missiles is expected to be shipped within the next six weeks.
The approved plan provides for the production and delivery of 3350 missiles of the new model. The total cost of these products is estimated at $850 million. Curiously, the US is not going to pay for the missiles for Ukraine. According to WSJ, European partners will finance the production.
Unnamed sources directly indicate the purpose of the new missiles - they are proposed to be used against the Russian army. The fundamental possibility of using ERAM against objects deep in Russian territory is also mentioned. However, in this case, Kyiv will need to obtain the appropriate permissions from the United States.
All the details of the American plans, including the most interesting ones, remain unknown for now. In addition, over the past days, the news from the WSJ has not received any official confirmation or denial. New details from unnamed but informed sources have not appeared either.
AGM-154A JSW cruise missile. Photo by US Department of Defense
Secret rocket
The recent news about ERAM missiles is of great interest - if this information is true, of course. According to the WSJ and its sources, the US industry has completed the development of one of the new secret projects and even brought it to the production stage.
It should be recalled that the ERAM (Extended Range Attack Munition) code first appeared in open Pentagon documents in January 2024. At that time, the department decided to develop a new aircraft missile and published a “request for information.”
It was later revealed that 16 American companies had applied to participate in the ERAM program. Their list was not disclosed. What rocket designs they proposed is also unknown.
In January 2025, the American press gained access to official documents concerning the progress of the ERAM program. It turned out that work on the new missile was still in its early stages. At that time, the Pentagon's specialized organizations continued to develop the missile's general appearance and tactical and technical requirements.
The competitive stage of the program and the design of the finished rocket were assigned to the near future, but without specifying the timeframe. At the same time, a desire was noted to speed up the work and obtain its results faster.
By the beginning of 2025, the Pentagon has drawn up rough production plans. In the first four years, they are planning to manufacture at least 2 ERAM missiles. It is easy to calculate that the average monthly output will exceed 40 items per month, which is quite a lot for modern US air weapons.
In 2024, it was reported that the first buyer of the new missiles would be the US Air Force. They are planning to include the ERAM product in the ammunition load of modern fighter-bombers. Foreign countries have also shown interest in the missile. By early 2025, initial agreements were reached with Denmark and the Netherlands.
Preparing an AGM-158C JASSM-ER missile. Photo by the US Department of Defense
Back in early 2024, a version emerged about the possible delivery of ERAM missiles to Ukraine. This topic was subsequently raised repeatedly, and now the American press is writing about the adoption of a fundamental decision. Judging by the latest news, Kyiv will be the first recipient of the new weapons, and he will be sent the largest number of products.
Estimated appearance
As it became known in early 2024, the goal of the ERAM project is to create a new air-to-surface guided missile with a special set of characteristics and qualities. In general, the customer wanted to obtain the highest possible flight characteristics at a minimum cost.
The appearance, layout and other aspects of the project were to be formed by the developer. There were no strict restrictions on dimensions, while the launch weight of the rocket was to be at the level of 500 pounds (approx. 230 kg). The mass of the combat load was not specified.
The rocket must have a cruise engine capable of reaching a speed of at least 0,6 M. The range of the flight must be at least 250 miles (400 km). The desired flight profile was not openly stated.
The ERAM product must have a control and guidance system that will allow it to attack stationary or moving targets. The circular error probable, including in the absence of GPS signals, must not exceed 10 m. It is unknown whether the customer requires additional functions, such as constant communication with the carrier aircraft, the ability to retarget in flight, etc.
Modern American-made fighters are considered as the main carriers of the ERAM missile. It is also impossible to rule out the use of European aircraft that meet NATO standards. Information about future deliveries to Ukraine suggests some adaptation to Soviet-style equipment.
Launch of an AGM-88 missile. Photo by the US Department of Defense
Unanswered Questions
The latest news about the preparation of the delivery of ERAM missiles to Ukraine predictably attracted attention. It was supposed to show that the US is ready to continue supporting Kyiv and is even taking real measures of this kind. However, the WSJ reports raise certain questions - both on their own and in combination with the news of the recent past.
First of all, the stated delivery dates look strange. In January of this year, it was reported that the ERAM project remains at the preliminary stage, and the production of even experimental missiles is a matter of an uncertain future. There was no further information about any progress on the project - there was no news even about preparations for testing.
However, just seven months later, in August, the WSJ actually claims that the US already has serial production of the new missiles. Moreover, no later than September-October, they will be able to ship the first batch to the recipient. The sudden progress of the ERAM program looks very strange.
There is also something odd about the expected production volumes. WSJ writes about the production of 3350 missiles for Ukraine alone. Earlier it was reported that the Pentagon would order 2000 items for itself, the production of which would take four years. To fulfill such plans, if they really exist, the US industry will have to make special efforts. At the same time, the production of 3,3 missiles will in any case take a lot of time.
Of particular interest is the information on the cost of the production program. WSJ indicates that the missiles will cost $850 million. It is easy to calculate that in this case the cost of one ERAM product will not exceed $254.
One of the main goals of the ERAM program is to reduce the cost of serial missiles, but such a level does not seem plausible. For comparison, the AGM-154A JASSM aircraft missile with similar range characteristics costs at least $700. Whether it is possible to make a munition with such parameters three times cheaper is a big question.
In the early stages
Thus, a number of important questions arise that cast doubt on the latest news from the WSJ. However, such a situation can be explained in several ways.
American AGM-88 missile on a Ukrainian fighter. Photo Telegram / BMPD
First of all, one can suspect the American newspaper of disseminating false information. If the White House does not plan to supply ERAM missiles to Ukraine, then all the inconsistencies in the news of different times disappear by themselves. At the same time, questions arise about the goals of the recent hoax and the spread of rumors.
However, it is possible that the ERAM program has moved forward. The Pentagon may have held a closed competitive development of the missile and selected a contractor who completed the design. The simplified missile may currently be in the testing stage.
In this case, the unknown manufacturing company may now be preparing pilot or pre-production production of missiles. Its products in small quantities may indeed be transferred not to American testers, but to Ukrainian formations.
In this scenario, Ukraine will become a testing ground for military tests of advanced weapons. It will be possible to test the missile in conditions of a real conflict and counteraction from a modern, developed army. Such testing will yield more results than any testing at testing grounds.
However, the volumes of such deliveries will be very limited. In addition, these "military tests" indefinitely postpone the launch of full-scale production. Accordingly, the fundamental possibility of shipping 3,3 thousand missiles is also shifted into the future.
Internal processes
The ERAM program must move forward and will probably yield its first results in the near future. When and what they will be is still unknown. However, the American press is already rushing things and writing about the imminent start of deliveries of such weapons to Ukraine. Such news looks dubious and raises a lot of questions.
Apparently, the latest reports from the WSJ relate mainly not to the production of weapons, but to politics. Some forces in the US considered it necessary to talk about the allegedly planned delivery of missiles, the existence of which is still in question. The goals and objectives of such an "information operation" remain unclear.
Information