US ERAM Long-Range Missile Program: Features, Variants, and Use in Ukraine

Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) programs developed for tactical aviation have expanded as Ukrainian forces integrate new precision strike capabilities, according to defense reports and military analysis published through mid-2026. The 500-pound hybrid weapon system, designed for a range of up to 250 miles, involves competing air-launched tactical missile designs from defense contractors including Zone 5 Technologies and CoAspire.

Development and Technical Specifications of ERAM

Air Force program launched in January 2024 to deliver low-cost, long-range weapons for American and allied forces, according to technical disclosures. The weapon functions as a hybrid between a guided air-dropped bomb and a compact cruise missile, carrying a 500-pound (227 kg) high-explosive fragment-penetrating warhead with adjustable fuse settings. It reaches a maximum speed of at least Mach 0.6 (740 km/h) and is engineered to hit targets within a 10-meter accuracy threshold at least 50 percent of the time, even amid GPS signal degradation.

According to an August 2025 report by the Ukrainian publication Focus, ERAM encompasses multiple air-launched systems for tactical aircraft rather than a single missile design. The portfolio includes the RAACM developed by CoAspire and the Rusty Dagger from Zone 5 Technologies, alongside an AGM-189 Barracuda variant by Anduril that has lagged behind in development timelines. Average unit costs are calculated at approximately $246,200 per weapon.

CoAspire RAACM and Zone 5 Technologies Rusty Dagger Variants

CoAspire’s entry, the Rapidly Adaptable Affordable Cruise Missile (RAACM), matches the dimensions of a standard Mk82 500-pound bomb and utilizes 3D-printing manufacturing techniques to enable production rates of up to 1,000 units annually, according to company statements. The RAACM features folding wings, a turbojet engine, and guidance packages capable of resisting electronic warfare interference. The system has completed successful test flights from an A-4 Skyhawk aircraft.

Zone 5 Technologies participates with its AGM-188A Rusty Dagger, an entry in the U.S. Air Force Enterprise Test Vehicle (ETV) competition. The Rusty Dagger achieves ranges of 300 nautical miles (555 km) at low altitudes and 500 nautical miles (926 km) at medium altitudes, carrying a warhead weighing between 45 and 100 kg. The missile incorporates low-observable design features, including radio-frequency transparent materials, an optimized body shape, and a concealed engine exhaust. Navigation relies on TERCOM, DSMAC, or visual matching systems to supplement satellite signals.

Integration and Combat Deployment by Ukrainian Forces

The U.S. administration approved the sale of ERAM units to Ukraine in August 2025 under a defense package funded largely by European partners, including Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, alongside U.S. Foreign Military Financing. Deliveries began with an initial pilot batch, and Ukrainian forces integrated the munitions onto Soviet-era MiG-29 and Su-27 jets, alongside preparations for modified F-16 fighter aircraft. U.S. Air Force F-16s at Eglin Air Force Base have also conducted flight tests with the system.

According to a July 2026 report by Naval News, physical evidence of the weapon’s deployment emerged on June 6, 2026, when Russian military personnel recovered missile wreckage inside Russia. Debris analysis identified a Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna (CRPA) produced by Zone 5 Technologies—recently acquired by Norway’s Kongsberg—confirming the combat use of the AGM-188A Rusty Dagger. Additional wreckage from the same missile type was subsequently found at the site of the Voronezh Semiconductor Factory following strikes launched by Ukrainian MiG-29 and Su-27 aircraft over distances exceeding 320 kilometers.