A Poseidon was noticed flying over the Mojave Desert with the lengthy vary anti-ship missile final month.
A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon plane was lately noticed carrying a LRASM (Lengthy Vary Anti-Ship Missile) in flight for the primary time. On Aug. 28, 2025, aviation photographer Aaron Maurer shared on X a photograph of the jet flying over the Mojave Desert with the missile clearly seen underneath its left wing.
A KC-46 Pegasus and P-8 Poseidon flying over Mojave. combo. #kc46 #p8 pic.twitter.com/aG0VzKvhDo
— maurer8photography (@maurer8photo) August 28, 2025
The Navy later confirmed to Newsweek that the missile was an LRASM and stated integration work on the P-8A is in progress.
The combination of the LRASM has been recognized for some years, however what makes Maurer’s shot significantly attention-grabbing is that it’s the first picture displaying the weapon carried on an underwing pylon in flight, doubtless throughout a check mission. Due to this fact, we reached out to Maurer for added particulars concerning the uncommon sighting.
“It was taken the center of August over Mojave,” advised us Maurer. “I didn’t point out the LRASM initially as a result of I used to be making an attempt to maintain it low key, individuals nonetheless took discover.”
“Spending quite a lot of time across the Mojave space I’m all the time watching the skies. I wasn’t listening to a scanner, simply listening for the faint rumble of one thing within the air. The KC-46 Pegasus handed overhead first. A couple of seconds later the P-8 Poseidon adopted the identical line. They each continued north finally going out of sight. I’m undecided the place they originated from, however it was cool seeing them. Nothing ought to be stunning within the Mojave desert, however a P-8 with an LRASM underneath the wing was surprising. It all the time pays off to observe the skies and pay attention.”
The AGM-158C
The AGM-158C LRASM (Lengthy Vary Anti-Ship Missile) is derived from the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Floor Standoff Missile – Prolonged Vary (JASSM-ER) and represents the brand new stealthy cruise missile designed by DARPA for the U.S. Air Pressure and U.S. Navy. In keeping with NAVAIR, LRASM offers a near-term resolution to the Offensive Anti-Floor Warfare (OASuW) requirement, filling the air-launched functionality hole with a versatile, long-range weapon in a position to interact high-value maritime targets in closely defended environments.
The missile has been engineered to function with lowered reliance on Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) property, information hyperlinks, and GPS, even in jamming-heavy situations. After launch, LRASM navigates to an preliminary level utilizing GPS steerage, then depends on its onboard sensors to autonomously detect, classify, and have interaction the designated ship. Superior algorithms enable it to refine much less exact focusing on information and prosecute particular vessels in contested waters.
Three variants make up the OASuW Increment 1 program: LRASM 1.0, LRASM 1.1, and LRASM C-3. The baseline LRASM 1.0 achieved early operational functionality in 2019 and has already been built-in on the B-1B Lancer and the F/A-18E/F Tremendous Hornet.
The follow-on LRASM 1.1, fielded in 2023, is at present present process Preliminary Operational Take a look at & Analysis, as reported by the Director, Operational Take a look at and Analysis. Integration on the P-8A Poseidon can also be underway, with completion initially anticipated by the summer time of 2024 and later postponed to 2025. For floor strike missions, the P-8A Poseidon can already carry 4 AGM-84 Harpoons underneath its 4 underwing hardpoints, however the brand new missile brings extra, superior long-range sea and land strike capabilities to the Poseidon.
Increment 3 Block 2 Modifications
The brand new missile is being built-in because the U.S. Navy has delivered the Increment 3 Block 2 improve to the primary of 141 P-8A.
Increment 3 Block 2 represents a significant step ahead for the Poseidon, bringing each airframe and avionics enhancements. The bundle introduces new structural racks, radomes, antennas, sensors, and wiring, together with a very up to date fight techniques suite. This contains improved pc processing energy, a safer structure, a wideband satellite tv for pc communications system, an ASW alerts intelligence functionality, a monitor administration system, and expanded communications and acoustic techniques to enhance search, detection, and focusing on.
“Increment 3 Block 2 brings the aptitude that the P-8A was made for. These modifications will enable aircrews to go looking, find and monitor probably the most superior submarines on this planet, enabling the fleet to tempo the risk with the required functionality and capability to win the struggle,” stated Capt. Erik Thomas, program supervisor for the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Plane workplace (PMA-290). “This supply demonstrates the PMA-290 workforce’s excellent work ethic, professionalism and dedication to the fleet.”
In keeping with the service, these modifications will equip the fleet with the complete spectrum of anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities envisioned within the P-8A program’s evolutionary acquisition technique.
The modification work is being carried out by Boeing at its Upkeep, Restore and Overhaul facility at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Florida, and the primary P-8A Poseidon “Increment 3 Block 2” (I3B2) flew for the primary time after the upgrades in June 2025.
Making the P-8 extra succesful
The continued integration of the LRASM on U.S. navy plane comes as China seeks to mission a picture of rising navy energy, highlighted by the large parade it held this week. On the identical time, tensions are additionally rising within the Western Hemisphere, the place the U.S. navy carried out a deadly strike towards a suspected Venezuelan drug vessel in what was the primary recognized use of direct navy drive towards a drug cartel’s maritime operations because the deployment of extra U.S. warships to the Caribbean area, additional stressing the necessity for succesful maritime patrol and strike platforms.
As famous by Newsweek’s Ryan Chan in his report on the LRASM integration, China now operates the world’s largest navy by hull rely, with greater than 370 ships and submarines in service. This drive underpins Beijing’s effort to develop its presence throughout the Western Pacific and straight problem U.S. naval energy within the area. In response, the US has deployed land-based anti-ship missile techniques within the Pacific and continues to bolster allied capabilities with U.S.-made ship-sinking weapons.
On this context, the P-8A Poseidon, designed for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare in addition to for ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) missions, stays a key asset. The U.S. Navy routinely employs the plane for patrols and joint workouts over strategic hotspots such because the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, the place tensions with China stay excessive, but additionally makes use of the Poseidon within the Western Atlantic and Caribbean, the place it displays narco-trafficking routes and Venezuelan naval exercise.
The addition of the LRASM, together with Increment 3 Block 2 upgrades and the Multi-Mission Pod (MMP), will considerably develop the Poseidon’s capacity to counter floor threats throughout each theaters. This ensures the plane can’t solely monitor and monitor but additionally strike hostile vessels at lengthy vary, reinforcing U.S. and allied deterrence towards each China’s rising naval energy within the Indo-Pacific and rising threats within the Western Hemisphere.
A giant thanks to Aaron Maurer for permitting us to make use of his {photograph}. Be certain to observe him on X and Instagram!
