US Air Force F-16 Tested A Rusty Dagger Cruise Missile Designed For Ukraine

The trials were conducted in several stages.

The US Air Force has tested the Rusty Dagger cruise missile, which is being developed under the ERAM program. The project is aimed at equipping Ukrainian combat aircraft with inexpensive, mass-produced and jam-resistant missiles. This is reported by The Aviationist.

The tests included launching the missile from an F-16 fighter jet and took place in several stages. The focus was on compatibility with the aircraft, correct loading, and the missile's flight behavior. The campaign included tests of weapon suspension and jettisoning, functionality verification, loading procedures and confirmation of the system's flight compatibility with the F-16.

The work was conducted at Eglin Base, where it was confirmed that the missile was successfully jettisoned from an F-16D Block 50 aircraft. Official reports did not mention the names Rusty Dagger or ERAM, but instead used the designation FAMM-L to reflect the updated project concept. However, ERAM markings and RD serial numbers were seen on inert samples, indicating a link to the original design.

The Zone 5 company involved in the project shared Eglin Base's LinkedIn post and said it was proud to have contributed to the rapid integration of the Rusty Dagger system on the F-16. The company emphasized that it is working on the concept of "affordable mass capability" - the ability to employ precision weapons in large numbers at a reduced cost.

Lieutenant Colonel Taylor Wilson, commander of the 40th Flight Test Squadron, said the team is accelerating experiments to get the new systems into service more quickly. He said it was possible to quickly prepare and execute the sorties needed to collect data and evaluate the new capabilities.

The ERAM program was originally launched to create affordable and scalable cruise missiles for Ukrainian fighter jets. Such weapons were expected to provide a cheaper alternative to existing missiles while maintaining combat effectiveness.

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