Dutch F-35 fleet plans to arm itself with JASSM-ER missiles

By Boyko Nikolov

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS — The Royal Netherlands Air Force [RNAF] will make an inquiry to the US to acquire long-range air-to-surface cruise missiles. The missiles are JASSM-ER [Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range]. They are manufactured by the American company Lockheed Martin. Janes.com writes about Dutch intentions in its article.

The sale of 35 F-35 stealth fighters to Germany is in progress
Photo credit: Pixabay

According to the British publication, Amsterdam made a request to Washington on April 3 this year. To receive the missiles, however, Amsterdam will have to wait for official authorization from the US Congress. This is the procedure in the US for arms exports. As a partner of the US and a member of NATO, the Netherlands is expected to receive the approval quickly, opening the door to production and supply.

This ammunition is needed by the Netherlands. As well as being part of NATO’s 2022 defense memorandum on long-range weapons, Amsterdam will want to increase its combat capabilities. The “low ground” says that the JASSM-ER missiles will increase the efficiency and combat capability of the Dutch F-35 for long-range strikes.

Official Amsterdam is currently not announcing the number of missiles requested. According to Janes.com’s sources, who are from the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands, the number of missiles ordered will be proportional to quantities ordered by other countries. The Dutch defense official may have been referring to the 68 missiles ordered from Poland, but as he did not mention a country, that figure remains in the realm of speculation. If Washington gives the “green light” to the sale, the missiles are expected to arrive at Dutch air bases in 2027.

JASSM and JASSM-ER are missiles that entered service in 2009. The missile requested by the Netherlands weighs 910 kg and carries a 450 kg warhead. The missile is controlled autonomously. The JASSM-ER is characterized as a highly accurate precision weapon.

AGM-158 JASSM air-launched cruise missile
Photo credit: Wikipedia

JASSM-ER operates in all weather conditions, maintaining its effectiveness in highly adverse weather conditions. Primary targets are enemy heavily defended positions that are located deep in enemy territory. The range of the missile is 300 nautical miles or 370 km.

The AGM-158B JASSM-ER is highly unified with the base version [70% hardware and 90% software] and features the F107-WR-105 Williams International turbofan engine, which provides a 2.5-fold increase in launch range – up to 925 km.

The extended range version of the JASSM-ER includes the JASSM-ER/AGM-158B, JASSM-ER/AGM-158B-2, JASSM-ER/AGM-158B-3, and JASSM-ER/AGM-158D modifications.

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