The Air Force this week awarded Lockheed Martin a $116.8 million contract option for 100 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range, bringing the total number of missiles for the military to more than 2,700. The option, expected to be completed by June 2019, is Lot 14 in production for the missiles, with full-rate production approved in 2014, according to a Lockheed release. The JASSM-ER missile is integrated on several Air Force aircraft, along with international aircraft such as the F/A-18, and last year Lockheed was awarded a contract to produce the missile for Finnish and Polish aircraft.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
