ERAM: US Air Force’s next-gen drone killer or big-time boondoggle?

The US Air Force is developing a low-cost cruise missile known as the Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM), which could evolve into an air-launched counter-drone weapon, The War Zone reported. Whether the weapon will be a jack-of-all-trades or master of none in the drone warfare era is unclear.

The ERAM program, launched to meet the needs of the Ukrainian military, explores various modular subsystems, including the Fixed Wing Air-Launched Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Ordnance (FALCO). The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Armament Directorate, based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is overseeing the project.

The ERAM, currently in Phase 1 of development, aims to create a 226-kilogram precision munition with a range of up to 400 kilometers and the ability to operate in GPS-degraded environments.

The FALCO subsystem, intended for counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) roles, could be integrated into future ERAM variants. The US Air Force’s focus on more affordable air-to-air capabilities stems from the necessity to counter drones and subsonic cruise missiles in the modern warfare era.

The ERAM’s potential as an air-to-air interceptor with a 400-kilometer range could provide a significant advantage, especially against less reactive targets. With the corresponding upgrades, it could be an ideal loitering munition for aerial anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) against drones and cruise missiles.

This development aligns with broader US military efforts to accelerate the production of new munitions and address concerns about munitions stockpiles, particularly in light of operations against Houthis in the Red Sea and keeping Ukraine in the fight against Russia. Both wars have shown a critical requirement for cheap, mass-produced interceptors against drone and missile saturation attacks.

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