While the idea of a universal missile-bomb based on the mysterious Extended-Range Attack Munition (ERAM)—an air-to-surface weapon with an expected range of 463 kilometers—might seem ambitious, there is now growing evidence supporting this concept.
This intriguing story reveals how an advanced munition originally designed for Ukraine’s Armed Forces is evolving into a much broader program. In addition to serving as a long-range air-to-surface weapon, ERAM is now being explored as a low-cost missile interceptor for drones and a Quicksink-equipped munition for anti-ship missions.
Read more: U.S. is Making ERAM Hybrid of Missile and Bomb for Ukraine, Deadlines Revealed
The primary source of this information is The War Zone, whose authors openly admit that direct evidence remains scarce. Their analysis is based on a statement from the U.S. Air Force (USAF), which suggests that after the base version of ERAM—a missile-bomb for Ukraine with a range of up to 463 kilometers—is completed, additional capabilities could be integrated.
One such enhancement is the Fixed Wing, Air Launched, Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Ordnance (FALCO). So far, USAF representatives have only confirmed that FALCO is designed for countering UAVs but have not disclosed specific performance details.
Based on this, The War Zone speculated that for FALCO to function as a UAV interceptor, it would likely require active or passive homing systems or even a radio-command guidance system. The publication has reached out to BAE Systems, the developer of ERAM, for clarification but has not yet received a response.
Reports suggesting that ERAM could also be equipped with Quicksink for anti-ship missions—unexpectedly gaining an anti-ship capability—only emerged in late January 2025.
At this stage, Defense Express highlights why ERAM could rightfully be considered a universal missile-bomb. Until now, there have been no known precedents where a single air-launched munition was developed for air-to-surface, air-to-sea, and even surface-to-air missions simultaneously.
Additionally, the technical specifications of the future ERAM variants—particularly in the FALCO UAV interceptor configuration—remain a topic of interest.
So far, the only publicly known specifications for ERAM are:
- Launch range – up to 463 kilometers
- Flight speed – subsonic
- Production rate – 1,000 units per year
- Expected production start – early 2026
Read more: The U.S. Is Developing Advanced Missile-Bomb for Ukraine with Maritime Strike Capability