Lockheed Martin has successfully conducted the first-ever launch of the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) surface-launch variant from a topside canister.

The flight test, at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, proved the missile's ability to conduct an angled launch from the newly designed topside canister, replicating a ship-launched environment. During the test, the LRASM, its Mk-114 booster and booster adapter ejected cleanly from the topside launcher using the same launch control and launch sequencer software currently employed by the Mk-41 Vertical Launch System (VLS).

This test ... proved it can be successfully fired from VLS and non-VLS surface platforms 

“This test validates the flexibility and versatility of LRASM, as it proved it can be successfully fired from VLS and non-VLS surface platforms,” Scott Callaway, Subsonic Cruise Missile director (Missiles and Fire Control) said.

Lockheed Martin believed the test success will enable the LRASM surface-launch variant to be employed aboard various platforms in the US Navy's surface fleet, providing the potential for a powerful new anti-ship role under the service's "Distributed Lethality" concept of operations.

The LRASM surface-launch variant is built on the same production line as JASSM, JASSM-ER and LRASM air-launch weapons, delivering the same long-range, precision capability while benefiting from manufacturing efficiencies. 

According to the company, the air-launched variant provides an early operational capability for the Navy's offensive anti-surface warfare Increment I requirement and is to be integrated onto the US Air Force's B-1B in 2018 and on the USN's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in 2019.

Australia was the first international customer for the JASSM weapon with the first test missiles received in 2007 under Project Air 5418 Phase One (Follow On Stand Off Weapon), but the complex integration program onto the RAAF's F/A-18A/B Hornets was placed on the Projects of Concern list in 2010. Final Operational Capability was declared in 2014. It was originally intended to integrate JASSM onto the F-35 later in the aircraft's development; Australia is also considering the Raytheon/Kongsberg Joint Strike Missile as a stand-off weapon for the JSF.

The 2016 Defence White Paper signalled the desire to obtain a land-based anti-ship missile capability for the ADF and LRASM may well be a contender for such a program, with the Raytheon/Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile also an option.