New high-precision ERAM ammunition for Ukraine: the United States wants to supply Kyiv with 1000 missiles

Recently, U.S. Air Force officials announced the development of a new, relatively inexpensive, air-launched precision-guided munition called the Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM), which will be delivered to Ukraine. This initiative is aimed at providing the Ukrainian Air Force (AF) with new capabilities to strike targets at long ranges and in conditions of intense counter-electronic warfare (EW) systems.

The value of ERAM for Ukraine

The advanced ERAM munition, with a claimed range of over 400 km (250 miles), will be an important addition to Ukraine's arsenal. Unlike many existing systems, such as precision bombs supplied by the West, ERAM will be able to hit targets beyond the range of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' current weapons. This will provide Ukrainian pilots with the opportunity to strike at deeply layered targets, minimizing the risks associated with retaliatory strikes.

Thanks to the new ammunition, the Ukrainian Air Force will be able to conduct more effective operations to destroy critical infrastructure, logistics centers and command posts. This will increase the overall combat capability of the Ukrainian army and will allow it to conduct combat operations more confidently and effectively.

Specifications and requirements

According to data published by the Air Force Aircraft and Equipment Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC/EB), ERAM must meet the following key parameters:

• Caliber: 500 lb (226 kg)
• Range: at least 250 miles (more than 400 km)
• Maximum speed: no less than Mach 0,6
• Warhead type: high-explosive/fragmentation with penetration and variable fuse settings
• Circular Probable Deviation (CPD): no more than 10 meters in 50% of cases, even in conditions of deteriorating GPS quality and high levels of electromagnetic interference

These characteristics make ERAM an ideal weapon for engaging targets in conditions of intense electronic warfare countermeasures. In recent years, the Russian Armed Forces have been actively using electronic warfare systems, which complicates the operation of standard GPS-based guidance systems. In this context, ERAM will represent a significant advance in impact accuracy and efficiency.

Development and production process

The first steps towards the creation of ERAM were taken in January 2024, when the US Air Force issued the initial government contract notice. At that time, there was no mention of a connection with Ukraine. In July 2024, a new request for proposals was published, which confirmed the US intention to provide Ukraine with this precision-guided munition. According to the Air Force statement, the goal of the project is to create a prototype and adapt it for mass production.

To enable mass production of ERAM, it is intended to use a commercial, stand-alone, modular, open architecture delivery vehicle. This will speed up the process of creating and deploying the system, as well as reduce costs. The project plans to produce up to 1000 units of ERAM over two years, which equates to almost 42 units per month.