EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The U.S. Air Force demonstrated a new benchmark, conducting a live-warhead test of a standoff cruise missile, known as Extended Range Attack Munition, on the Eglin Test and Training Range Jan. 21, 2025, less than 16 months from the program's initial contract award.
The event, which met all primary objectives including a full warhead detonation, gathered critical data to mature a new, cost-effective, long-range strike capability. This accelerated timeline is a proof point for the War Department's focus on delivering capability to the warfighter at the speed of relevance.
ERAM is a next-generation, air-launched cruise missile designed to provide affordable mass to the fight. It delivers a precision-guided, stand-off capability against high-value fixed targets, meeting a critical operational need by providing a long-range, cost-effective strike capability that can be rapidly producible in large numbers to bolster U.S. deterrence.
"Moving from a contract to a live-fire demonstration in under two years proves we can deliver lethal, cost-effective capability at the speed of relevance,” said Brig. Gen. Robert Lyons III, Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Weapons. “This is how we rebuild our military — by empowering our teams and industry partners to cut through bureaucracy and deliver the tools our warfighters need to prevail."
The test was a collaborative effort between the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Armament Directorate, the 96th Test Wing, and industry partners. Engineers and test conductors from Eglin’s Central Control Facility planned the mission and analyzed the data, leveraging the range's unique capabilities to execute the complex event.
"The future fight demands we create an asymmetric advantage by developing cost-effective, attritable systems like ERAM that give commanders the ability to generate mass,” said Brig. Gen. Mark Massaro, 96th TW commander. “This test is a critical milestone on that path. The expert teams who executed this complex mission provided the high-fidelity data we need to validate this system, ensuring that when it reaches the warfighter, it is a proven and ready tool for the right target. This is the cornerstone of building a more lethal and effective Joint Force.