US orders more than 1,000 new ERAM cruise missiles for Ukraine, reports say
The United States seeks manufacturers for new cruise missiles ERAM for Ukraine (photo: facebook.com/GeneralStaff)
The US Air Force is seeking contractors to produce new ERAM cruise missiles intended for Ukraine. The missile is designed to fly more than 460 kilometers and hit its target even in electronic warfare conditions, according to the Air Force Times.
ERAM (Extended Range Attack Munition) is a small air-launched cruise missile designed for mass production. The US Air Force describes it as an affordable weapon for precision strikes against high-value fixed targets from a safe distance.
In its request to manufacturers, the Air Force outlined the technical requirements. The missile must belong to the 500-pound class (approximately 227 kg) and have a range of more than 250 nautical miles, or over 460 kilometers. Its speed must exceed Mach 0.6.
It must be accurate to within 10 meters, even if the enemy jams GPS signals. In addition to its high-explosive fragmentation warhead, ERAM must partially penetrate obstacles on impact.
Companies must submit their proposals by November 19. Delivery deadlines are strict: the first missiles must arrive no later than three months after the contract is signed.
The order involves more than 1,000 missiles, with the entire batch to be delivered within 15 months.
Does Ukraine use ERAM?
In August 2025, the Trump administration announced the sale of 3,350 ERAM missiles to Ukraine for $825 million. F-16 fighter jets can launch them.
In June 2026, Ukrainian media speculated that Ukraine had used the AGM-188A Rusty Dagger, one of the ERAM variants, to strike the Voronezh semiconductor plant. The facility manufactures components for Russian missiles.
CNN reported a possible timeline for the first ERAM deliveries in August 2025. At the time, the outlet found that the missiles the Department of State approved for Kyiv could begin arriving in Ukraine by the end of that year.
Meanwhile, Washington is seeking funding for additional aid packages for Ukraine. Bloomberg says the United States will ask its NATO allies to provide additional funding for weapons purchases for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as the approved packages are short by about $2 billion. The request can be sent as early as November.
