The next steps in the US military campaign against Iran will make up almost all of its inventory of JASSM-ER cruise missiles, drawing them from stockpiles allocated elsewhere.
The order to pull the $1.5 million weapon from the Pacific stockpile was issued in late March, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.
Missiles at U.S. bases elsewhere, including the continental United States, will be moved to bases at U.S. Central Command or Fairford in Britain, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details.
After the move, only about 425 JASSM-ERs out of the pre-war inventory of 2,300 will remain available to the rest of the world. That would be enough for 17 B-1B bombers on one mission. Another 75 or so are “out of service” due to damage or technical glitches.
The JASSM-ER, or Joint Extended Range Air-to-Surface Missile, can fly more than 965 kilometers (600 miles) and was designed to engage targets at safe distances to avoid enemy air defenses.
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Trump says the US can end the war in Iran within 2 to 3 weeks, with or without a deal
Trump says the US can end the war in Iran within 2 to 3 weeks, with or without a deal
With the JASSM short-range submarine – which has a range of 400 kilometers (250 miles), about two-thirds of the US reserves are dedicated to the Iran war, the person said.
