A new weapons race may be taking shape behind the scenes of the war in Ukraine. The US Air Force is exploring the rapid production of a next-generation cruise missile designed to give Kyiv a powerful long-range strike capability — potentially changing how the conflict is fought.
According to a report by Air Force Times, the US military has invited defense contractors to outline their ability to supply missiles under the Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) program. The request for quotations reportedly sets an ambitious target: more than 1,000 missiles, with the first deliveries expected within three months of a contract award.
The specifications reveal why this weapon is attracting attention.
Each missile is expected to weigh around 230 kilograms and travel more than 463 kilometers, at speeds exceeding Mach 0.6. It must also deliver precision within approximately 10 meters of its target, even when operating under radio interference. Its warhead is expected to combine explosive and fragmentation effects with limited penetrating capability.
In other words, this is not simply another missile project. It is an attempt to develop a relatively affordable weapon that can be produced in large numbers without sacrificing precision.
From Prototype to Production — at Unusual Speed
The program has been developing for several years. In 2024, the US Air Force awarded prototype development contracts to two smaller defense companies, Zone 5 Technologies and CoAspire.
A significant milestone reportedly followed in January 2026, when a live warhead detonation test was conducted at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
Now, the focus appears to be shifting from development to industrial-scale production. The proposed schedule is particularly striking: deliveries of more than 1,000 missiles are expected to be completed within 15 months of the contract award.
That timetable suggests Washington is looking beyond experimental technology and toward a weapon that could be deployed in meaningful quantities.
A New Challenge for Russia?
For Ukraine, long-range precision weapons could offer another way to threaten military infrastructure, logistics networks and command facilities far behind the front line. For Russia, the prospect raises difficult questions about air defense coverage and the protection of strategic assets.
But the larger significance may extend beyond Ukraine.
The ERAM program reflects a growing recognition in Washington that modern warfare demands not only advanced weapons, but also the ability to manufacture them quickly and affordably. Expensive systems remain important, yet quantity can become decisive in a prolonged conflict.
The crucial question is whether the United States can turn this ambitious schedule into reality — and whether these missiles will reach Ukraine in sufficient numbers to make a difference on the battlefield.
