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U.S. Deploys Most JASSM-ER Missiles for Iran Operations
The U.S. has moved a significant portion of its JASSM-ER cruise missiles to support operations against Iran, leaving about 425 out of a prewar inventory of 2,300 for other regions. This deployment, ordered at the end of March, includes missiles from Pacific stockpiles and other locations.
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The U.S. military has deployed a large number of JASSM-ER cruise missiles, which are designed for long-range strikes, as part of its operations against Iran. According to Fortune, the JASSM-ER has a range of more than 600 miles and is intended to allow attacks from safer distances to evade enemy air defenses. This deployment follows the U.S. and Israel's air campaign that began on February 28.
Fortune reported that an order to transfer missiles from Pacific stockpiles was issued at the end of March, based on information from a person with direct knowledge. Missiles from U.S. facilities, including those in the continental U.S., are being moved to U.S. Central Command bases or Fairford in the UK.
Each JASSM-ER missile costs about $1.5 million, and this redistribution affects stockpiles originally allocated for other regions.
After these movements, only about 425 JASSM-ER missiles remain available for areas outside the Iran operations, out of a prewar inventory of 2,300. This leaves roughly enough for 17 B-1B bombers on a single mission, according to the source. Additionally, about 75 missiles are unserviceable due to damage or technical issues, further limiting available resources.
In the first four weeks of the conflict, U.S. operations consumed more than 1,000 JASSM-ER missiles, with launches from B-52 and B-1B bombers as well as strike fighters. The source also stated that 47 missiles were used in a separate raid related to capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Meanwhile, incidents include a U.S. F-15E strike fighter being shot down on Friday, an A-10 attack jet downed, and two combat search-and-rescue helicopters hit by Iranian fire, as reported by the New York Times.
U.S. production of JASSM-ER missiles has allocated funds for more than 6,200 units since 2009, but production of the baseline JASSM ended about 10 years ago. Lockheed Martin Corp. has a scheduled production rate of 396 JASSM-ER missiles for 2026, though up to 860 could be manufactured if the line focuses solely on them.
