AGM-188 Rusty Dagger
American aerial stand-off munition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The AGM-188A Rusty Dagger is a low-cost precision-guided air-launched stand-off munition being developed by Zone 5 Technologies for the United States Air Force (USAF) Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) program which started in August 2024.[1] If selected, the weapon is expected to enter service in late 2026.
| AGM-188A Rusty Dagger | |
|---|---|
| Type | Subsonic cruise missile |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2026-present |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Zone 5 Technologies |
| Unit cost | USD$246,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Approx. 500 lb (227 kg) |
| Length | 104 in (2.64 m) |
| Warhead | Conventional warhead |
| Warhead weight | 100 lb (45.4 kg) |
| Engine | PBS TJ80 turbojet |
Operational range | greater than 500 nmi (575 mi; 926 km) |
| Maximum speed | High subsonic |
Launch platform | AH-64 Apache AH-1Z Viper F-35A/B/C Strategic bombers F-15E/EX F/A-18E/F F-16 Ground-launched Ship-launched Rapid Dragon |
Design
Two separate designs by non-traditional defense companies CoAspire and Zone 5 Technologies will be manufactured. The USAF issued contracts for the ERAM in October 2024 and both designs made a first flight four months later. The program has a $225 million budget, and is managed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Armament Directorate.[1]
The ERAM is described as a hybrid between a cruise missile and an advanced guided bomb, carrying a 500 pounds (230 kg) warhead to a range of up to 280 miles (450 km), at speeds of at least 430 mph (690 km/h).[2]
The requirements are in line with Boeing's PJDAM (a powered derivative of the JDAM), a powered version of Raytheon’s Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW) glide bomb, or those of Northrop Grumman's "Gray Wolf" design.[3] The weapon was assigned the designation AGM-188A with name "Rusty Dagger".[4]
Delivery plans
It is planned to deliver a first batch of 840 ERAMs in October 2026. Ukraine will receive some of this batch for use in the Russo-Ukrainian War, and is cleared to purchase up to 3,350 ERAMs including spares and support equipment for an estimated cost of $825 million.[1][5] Ukraine is expected to use funding from Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and United States Foreign Military Financing for the purchase.[6]
In June 2026, it was reported by defense news site The War Zone that a test batch of the AGM-188 had already been received by Ukraine, with some missiles having been "field tested" in combat in Russia, with Russian sources reporting recovery of "an unknown 8-element CRPA antenna" from a "Rusty Dagger" cruise missile.[7]
