The United States is advancing efforts to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities through the ERAM program, aimed at developing a cutting-edge missile-bomb for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. While most details of the program remain classified, publicly disclosed information reveals projected range of 463 kilometers and a production goal of 1,000 units annually by 2026.
A key feature of the ERAM missile-bomb is the integration of the Quicksink seeker, an advanced guidance system designed to target and destroy ships and other maritime threats. This dual-mode seeker, which combines radar and infrared capabilities, has already demonstrated its effectiveness in tests with the GBU-31/B JDAM, showing resilience against enemy electronic warfare during terminal flight phases.
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The ERAM program, first disclosed in July 2024 but initiated in early 2023, leverages the Pentagon’s Other Transaction Authority (OTA) funding mechanism to streamline development. Developers are also exploring guidance systems independent of GPS, further enhancing the weapon’s adaptability.
Notably, the program is a collaborative effort involving the United States, Ukraine, Denmark, and the Netherlands. The U.S. Air Force has requested a timeline and pricing for the first ten Quicksink prototypes, with an eye toward expanding its integration with other munitions. Current estimates place the cost of a single Quicksink unit at $200,000, though further development aims to reduce this to $50,000.
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