{"id":2054,"date":"2026-04-18T14:29:46","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T14:29:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/2026\/04\/18\/rusty-dagger-extended-range-attack-munition-tested-from-f-16-at-eglin-test-range\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T14:29:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T14:29:46","slug":"rusty-dagger-extended-range-attack-munition-tested-from-f-16-at-eglin-test-range","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/2026\/04\/18\/rusty-dagger-extended-range-attack-munition-tested-from-f-16-at-eglin-test-range\/","title":{"rendered":"Rusty Dagger Extended Range Attack Munition Tested from F-16 at Eglin Test Range"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Rusty<\/p>\n

The U.S. Air Force announced a test of the Family of Affordable Mass Munitions-Lugged, with photos showing the weapon was a Rusty Dagger low-cost cruise missile.<\/h2>\n

The U.S. Air Force announced that it completed in March 2026 a series of integration trials of one of the Extended Range Attack Munition<\/a> (ERAM) weapons, the Rusty Dagger low-cost air-launched surface-strike cruise missile developed by Zone 5 Technologies. The weapon was released by an F-16 Fighting Falcon jet from Eglin AFB, Florida.<\/p>\n

The Apr. 13 press release<\/a> said the test campaign included a series of captive carry and release trials, including \u201cfit and functionality checks, validation of loading procedures, and ensuring flight compatibility of the FAMM-L and F-16.\u201d The release added \u201cthis effort culminated with the carriage and release of the weapon off the F-16.\u201d<\/p>\n

The statement does not identify either the Rusty Dagger, the developer Zone 5 or the ERAM program designation, but rather uses the Family of Affordable Mass Munitions-Lugged (FAMM-L) designation, that the program came to be named subsequently. The ERAM designation, however, can be seen stenciled on the inert weapon, together with a serial number starting with \u201cRD,\u201d the initials of Rusty Dagger.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon taxis on the flightline at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The F-16 is carrying a Family of Affordable Mass Munition \u2013 Lugged weapon as part of a rapid test series performed by the 96th Test Wing and 53rd Wing. [In the inset: the the stencils on the weapon identifying it as an Extended Range Attack Munition] | Source: U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas M. Barley, edited by The Aviationist<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Zone 5 itself reshared Eglin AFB\u2019s LinkedIn post<\/a>, saying it was \u201cproud to have supported Team Eglin\u2019s rapid Rusty Dagger integration on the F-16.\u201d The company added \u201cTogether, we\u2019re making \u2018Affordable Mass\u2019 a reality with precision strike capabilities at scale!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

I firmly believe that weapons often match the cost of what\u2019s taken out via secondary effects if not directly, but at ~$250k (will drop with scale) and tens if not hundreds of these being employed by multiple platforms changes that cost imbalance equation drastically in every way. pic.twitter.com\/E1wkqwOSSQ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Abd (@blocksixtynine) April 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This new test campaign follows a Jan. 21, 2026, live-warhead test<\/a> of a standoff cruise missile by the 96th Test Wing at the Eglin Test and Training Range (ETTR. On that occasion, the service specifically identified the weapon as the ERAM.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The ERAM program was initially launched to arm Ukrainian jets with simple, scalable and jam-resistant cruise missiles. The goal was to throw in affordable air-launched mass against Russia, with lower costs compared to current cruise missiles.<\/p>\n

Rusty Dagger tests<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The March tests show the F-16D Block 50 of the Team Eglin Test Enterprise carrying two Rusty Daggers, along with two CATM-120 AMRAAMs, a CATM-9 Sidewinder short-range AAM, and an AN\/AAQ-28 Litening pod. The 96th Test Wing and 58th Wing were responsible for the integration and operational test respectively.<\/p>\n

The 780th Test Squadron commander Lt. Col. Brett Tillman called it \u201ca perfect demonstration of test readiness to meet warfighter needs.\u201d Tillman further said that \u201cintegrating the entire test team allowed us to safely test and deliver a critical capability at incredible speed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 40th Flight Test Squadron commander Lt. Col. Taylor Wilson underscored how the team is \u201caccelerating experimentation\u201d for rapidly operationalizing the weapon. \u201cThe team was able to rapidly generate and execute sorties to deliver crucial data for evaluating new, innovative warfighter capabilities,\u201d said Wilson.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
An Extended Range Attack Munition live-fire test was conducted Jan. 22, 2026 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. | Source: Courtesy photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The earlier live-warhead test on Jan. 21 at the ETTR meanwhile \u201cmet all primary objectives including a full warhead detonation, and gathered critical data to mature a new, cost-effective, long-range strike capability.\u201d The release highlighted that the test took place in \u201cless than 16 months from the program\u2019s initial contract award.\u201d<\/p>\n

While it is not clear which platform was used to release the Rusty Dagger, the weapon can clearly be identified in the officially released sequence of photos, capturing the missile heading down vertically on a static target, before its live warheads explodes.<\/p>\n

The release called the ERAM a \u201cnext-generation, air-launched cruise missile designed to provide affordable mass to the fight.\u201d The service further explained that \u201cit delivers a cost-effective, precision-guided, stand-off capability against high-value fixed targets,\u201d while being \u201crapidly producible in large numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

This actually should be the AGM-188A Rusty Dagger being certified\/integrated which falls under the Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) effort and by extension the FAMM umbrella. While the requirement threshold was 250nm, the AGM-188A pushes that out to nearly 500nm (930km). https:\/\/t.co\/hK52flCgi7<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/IdWi9g1G1N<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Abd (@blocksixtynine) April 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cMoving from a contract to a live-fire demonstration in under two years proves we can deliver lethal, cost-effective capability at the speed of relevance,\u201d said Brig. Gen. Robert Lyons III, Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Weapons.<\/p>\n

Rapid progress<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Air Force Life-Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) first sought<\/a> the air-launched tactical, scalable, cheap air-to-ground weapon in June 2024. By August 2025<\/a>, U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s administration had approved 3,350 units to be sold to Ukraine, evidencing that things moved reasonably fast in the intervening time.<\/p>\n

Two weapons were downselected, with the first being the Rusty Dagger. The other low-cost cruise missile as a part of the ERAM program is CoAspire\u2019s Rapidly Adaptable Affordable Cruise Missile (RAACM)<\/a>, which the company tested in August 2025<\/a> on an A-4 Skyhawk.<\/p>\n

The U.S. military is also envisaging cheap air-launched munitions blurring the lines between long-range One Way Attack (OWA) drones and cruise missiles, like Project Artemis<\/a>.The ERAM project progressed independently and rapidly, moving from conception (July 2024) to production (September 2025) in just 14 months.<\/p>\n

\"Rusty<\/a>
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon releases a Family of Affordable Mass Munition \u2013 Lugged weapon over the Gulf of America. This release was part of a rapid test series performed by the 96th Test Wing and 53rd Wing. | Source: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Blake Wiles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From ERAM to FAMM-L<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Air and Space Forces Magazine<\/em><\/a> shed further light in a Mar. 24, 2026, report about Air Force acquisitions chief Brig. Gen. Robert P. Lyons III\u2019s appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC). The publication said that the service contracted Zone 5 Technologies and CoAspire for the ERAM in \u201clate-2024.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thus, from the time of conception, the ERAM program progressed to the contracting stage in four months, fielded flying prototypes in four to seven months, and entered production in just 14 months.<\/p>\n

\n

Under the name ERAM, \"\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\"will purchase missiles from 2 mfrs at once, with the 1st batch expected by the end of 2026.
\nAccording to AviationWeek, \"\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\"will procure 2 different types of \"\ud83d\ude80\"to be launched from both F-16 and MiG-29 jets: the Rusty Dagger by Zone 5 and the RAACM by CoAspire. pic.twitter.com\/en42OMMr9h<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 \ud835\udd17\ud835\udd25\ud835\udd22 \ud835\udd6f\ud835\udd22\ud835\udd1e\ud835\udd21 \ud835\udd6f\ud835\udd26\ud835\udd30\ud835\udd31\ud835\udd2f\ud835\udd26\ud835\udd20\ud835\udd31\u25b3 \"\ud83c\uddec\"\"\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa\"\"\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\"\"\ud83c\uddf2\"\"\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\uddf7\" (@TheDeadDistrict) September 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The ERAM then figured as the Family of Affordable Mass Munitions (FAMM) program in the service\u2019s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request<\/a>\u2019s Missile Procurement section, seeking $656,333 for 3,010 units. In the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation section of the FY2026 budget document, the FAMM even encompassed the Rapid Dragon palletized launch<\/a> program.<\/p>\n

The budget document stressed upon the low-cost, and mass-producible features of the FAMM weapons:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Family of Affordable Mass Missiles (FAMM) will be a Modular Weapon Series (M-Series), open-architected munition for long-range, affordability, high producibility, and palletized employment. FAMM lifecycle prototyping activities will include integration and flight demonstrations of affordable and highly manufacturable small turbine engines, seekers\/sensors, networked datalinks, collaborative autonomy behaviors, and ordnance (warhead\/fuse). Work will also include testing and certification of palletized mass employment munition flight vehicles.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

The ERAM\/FAMM\u2019s origins date back even further to the Air Force\u2019s Enterprise Test Vehicle (ETV) program, which aimed to develop a low-cost, palletized, air-to-surface munition. Existing defense industry heavyweights have also developed their own cost-effective, scalable palletized-launch surface-strike munitions.<\/p>\n

Leidos\u2019s Black Arrow<\/a>, that the Air Force designated as the AGM-190A in February, and Lockheed Martin\u2019s Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT)<\/a> are two of them. The CMMT has two versions, including an unpowered glide-vehicle called CMMT-D and a smaller powered variant called CMMT-X.<\/p>\n

\n

#Czechia<\/a>\/#USA<\/a> \"\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddff\"\"\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\": PBS Aerospace, a member of the Czech PBS Group (@PBS_GRP<\/a>), a jet engine manufacturer, today announced that it has signed a significant subcontract with Zone 5 Technologies, Inc. The contract is valued at tens of millions of USD.<\/p>\n

The contract follows the\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/qRuiC8HtA5<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 \ud835\udd7b\ud835\udd97\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd8e\ud835\udd98\ud835\udd8a \ud835\udd7f\ud835\udd8d\ud835\udd8a \ud835\udd7e\ud835\udd99\ud835\udd8a\ud835\udd95\ud835\udd8d (@praisethesteph) February 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The U.S. Air Force announced a test of the Family of Affordable Mass Munitions-Lugged, with photos showing the weapon was a Rusty Dagger low-cost cruise missile. The U.S. Air Force announced that it completed in March 2026 a series of integration trials of one of the Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) weapons, the Rusty Dagger […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2055,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2054","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2054"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2054\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2054"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2054"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2054"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}