Overview
- Orders in late March pulled missiles from Pacific and U.S. stockpiles to CENTCOM bases and RAF Fairford, leaving about 425 available worldwide and roughly 75 unserviceable.
- The JASSM‑ER is a stealth air‑launched cruise missile with a range of more than 600 miles that lets bombers and fighters strike defended targets from outside most air defenses.
- U.S. forces have already fired more than 1,000 JASSM‑ERs in the first four weeks since the air campaign began on February 28, reflecting heavy reliance on stand‑off weapons.
- Recent losses, including a downed F‑15E and an A‑10 and damage to rescue helicopters reported by the New York Times, pushed commanders to rely more on long‑range shots to protect aircrews.
- Lockheed Martin plans about 396 JASSM‑ERs in 2026, and even a full ramp to 860 a year would take years to rebuild stocks, raising readiness concerns for other theaters as President Donald Trump escalates public threats against Iran.