The US Navy began initial integration testing of its Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) onto the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Aug. 12 at Patuxent River’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 facility.
The program’s flight test team conducted missile load and fit checks using a mass simulator vehicle, designed to emulate LRASM, in preparation for the first phase of airworthiness testing with the F/A-18 E/F scheduled to begin later this month.
Integration efforts and flight testing will continue over the next few years at both NAS Patuxent River and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake to clear LRASM for flight operations on the aircraft.
When operational, LRASM will provide flexible, long-range, advanced, anti-surface capability against high threat maritime targets.
LRASM is set to be fielded on the B-1B Bomber in 2018 and the F/A-18 E/F in 2019.
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Image: US Navy