Air Force Seeks Production Capacity for More Than 1,000 ERAM Missiles

The U.S. Air Force is asking industry to demonstrate whether it can produce more than 1,000 Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) air-launched cruise missiles intended for Ukraine. The request for information is an early market-research step to assess manufacturers’ production capacity and technical capabilities; it is not a contract award or confirmation that a particular company will receive a production contract. Responses are due November 19, 2026, giving interested firms a short period to review the notice on SAM.gov, evaluate their ability to meet its requirements, and prepare information about their manufacturing approach and delivery capacity.

The RFI describes a small, approximately 500-pound-class standoff weapon with a range exceeding 250 nautical miles and speed above Mach 0.6. It calls for terminal accuracy within 10 meters even in conditions involving jamming or degraded GPS, along with blast and fragmentation effects and limited penetration on impact. The Air Force has characterized ERAM as an affordable way to add mass to the fight and provide precision-guided standoff capability against high-value fixed targets. For prospective respondents, the stated performance envelope is only part of the challenge: the government is also seeking an industrial base capable of delivering at scale on an accelerated schedule.

The contemplated schedule makes production readiness a central evaluation concern. The first missiles would be due no later than three months after contract award, with deliveries completed within 15 months. Firms will need to show not only that the design and production processes can meet the stated requirements, but also that suppliers, workforce, facilities, testing, and quality controls can support rapid ramp-up. The RFI does not itself establish the eventual contract structure, award date, or selection criteria, so companies should avoid treating the timeline as a guaranteed procurement schedule until the Air Force releases further acquisition information.

ERAM has already progressed through prototype development and testing. In 2024, the Air Force awarded prototype-development contracts to Zone 5 Technologies and CoAspire. The service conducted a live warhead test at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, in January 2026, less than a year and a half after those awards. Those prototype awards provide relevant program context, but they do not establish that either company has been selected for the production opportunity. The broader acquisition effort reflects a Pentagon push toward less expensive weapons developed more quickly, while reports also raise questions about Ukraine’s use of ERAM variants and the extent to which the U.S. military may use the system. For contractors, the immediate opportunity is to respond with credible evidence of technical compliance and manufacturing throughput, while tracking any subsequent solicitation or contract announcement separately from this RFI.

• Opportunity stage: The Air Force’s RFI is a request for industry information, not a solicitation award or production contract.
• Response deadline: Interested companies should review the notice on SAM.gov and submit responses by November 19, 2026.
• Potential quantity: The contemplated production requirement exceeds 1,000 ERAM missiles for Ukraine.
• Schedule pressure: Initial deliveries are contemplated within three months of award, with completion within 15 months.
• Performance profile: The weapon is described as approximately 500 pounds, with range above 250 nautical miles and speed above Mach 0.6.
• Accuracy and effects: The stated requirement includes terminal accuracy within 10 meters under jamming or degraded-GPS conditions, blast and fragmentation effects, and limited penetration on impact.
• Production response: Prospective producers should document manufacturing throughput, supply-chain readiness, and their ability to begin deliveries quickly; the RFI does not confirm final evaluation criteria.
• Program history: Zone 5 Technologies and CoAspire received prototype-development awards in 2024; neither award establishes selection for production.
• Testing milestone: The Air Force conducted an ERAM live warhead test at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, in January 2026.
• Market context: ERAM is presented as an affordable, rapidly developed standoff weapon for high-value fixed targets; the RFI does not resolve the extent of future U.S. military use.