American defense company CoAspire at Sea-Air-Space 2026 exhibition first presented its new RAACM-ER (Rapidly Adaptable Affordable Cruise Missile Extended Range) extended-range cruise missile, created as a longer-range version of RAACM cruise missile. The latter in turn was developed under the ERAM program, which provided for creating cheap weapons specifically for Ukraine's needs and based on conclusions and experience of the russian-Ukrainian war.
The War Zone reports this. Today, the U.S. is increasingly paying attention to truly inexpensive strike weapons as opposed to missiles costing several million dollars per unit or more. For its own military, they’re implementing the Family of Affordable Mass Missiles (FAMM) project, which already has a number of subprograms.
Read more: Missiles Against Ballistic Threats for Patriot, Air Defense Systems, Ships and Aviation — What Japan Can Now Sell to Ukraine's Partners
In particular, the FAMM-BAR program was recently announced. Within its framework, they're looking for a missile with range over 1,000 nautical miles (more than 1,850 km), speed not less than Mach 0.7, ability to operate from pallets from cargo aircraft, etc. Such missiles will be designed for striking surface targets.
Regarding the new RAACM-ER missile first presented by CoAspire, although it's a continuation of the RAACM family, it received a new design that visually resembles the AGM-158 JASSM air-to-surface cruise missile.
Although the company distances itself from any comparisons, emphasizing that what's important in the missile is its contents, optimized within the framework of reducing weapons cost and its affordability, the ability for truly mass production.
Regarding RAACM-ER's tactical-technical characteristics, its range of over 1,800 km is known, while RAACM's is approximately 400 km. Actually, the desire to make a much longer-range but affordable missile became the reason for changing this cruise missile's fuselage shape.
How much RAACM-ER may cost is unknown, but RAACM's price fluctuates within several hundred thousand dollars. RAACM-ER is already compared by range to Tomahawk cruise missile. However, again with the note that we’re talking about weapons of different classes.
Both missiles RAACM and longer-range RAACM-ER can be launched from air or naval platforms, as well as ground launcher. In RAACM-ER's case, for ground launch the missile is equipped with additional rocket booster, so it can be operated from launch container.
The company noted they plan to conduct a test flight of their new RAACM-ER cruise missile soon, while the previous RAACM version has already passed flight tests.
Defense Express previously reported that AGM-188A Rusty Dagger missile created for Ukraine was successfully integrated on F-16. This is a cruise missile from Zone 5 Technologies, which was also developed under the ERAM program.
Read more: UK Positions Challenger 3 as Its Most Advanced Tank, Armata Counterpart, Claims Edge Over russian Armor
