What Are the New US ERAM Missiles Ukraine Just Got That Threaten Every Russian Base 400 Km Away

In recent months, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have intensified strikes on railways—the Russian military’s primary transport lifeline. A large supply of missiles could paralyze this channel for moving cargo and weapons to the front.

US President Donald Trump has approved the sale of 3,350 ERAMs—Extended Range Active Missiles—to Ukraine. This new weapon, originally slated for development in 2024, was designed to rival Russia’s KAB guided aerial bombs but with greater range and significantly lower cost. The final unit price per missile is not yet known, as they are part of an $850 million aid package that also includes other weapons.

What is ERAM?

ERAM is essentially a hybrid between a cruise missile and a bomb. It has a strike range of 240 to over 400 kilometers (150-250 miles). Ukraine has only a limited number of comparable long-range strike systems, notably the Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles and domestically produced drone missiles. The delivery of a large batch of additional missiles will further strengthen Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.

To reach distances of up to 400 kilometers, ERAM is equipped with an engine with a flight speed exceeding 700 km/h. Known technical specifications include:

• Approximate range: 463 km (288 miles)

• Flight speed: at least 763 km/h (475 mph)

• Accuracy: within 10 meters (33 feet)

• Weight: around 227 kg (500 pounds)

The weapon was designed as simply as possible to ensure it can be launched from Ukraine’s existing platforms—specifically, aircraft. It can also be equipped with additional systems, including the Quicksink guidance head.

The ERAM project was conceived in 2024 as a response to the war in Ukraine. US defense planners tasked manufacturers with producing a weapon capable of striking deep behind enemy lines, while keeping costs low and production timelines fast.

The US goal is to achieve a production rate of up to 1,000 units per year. The number of missiles Ukraine will receive in the first delivery remains unknown.

What are the targets?

With a range of 400 kilometers, ERAM dramatically expands the list of potential military targets for Ukrainian aviation, both inside Ukraine and on Russian territory. Within reach are all occupied territories and Crimea, allowing Ukraine to strike Russian military personnel concentrations, depots, railway infrastructure, supply routes, as well as air defenses and radar systems. Airfields and Shahed drone launch sites would also be vulnerable.

If Ukraine is granted permission to strike military targets inside Russia, those would include airfields, rail infrastructure, and large ammunition depots.

Most crucially, quantity matters. With a large supply of ERAMs, Ukrainian aircraft could launch massed strikes, overwhelming Russian air defenses. The result: slowing offensives and inflicting greater losses on Russia’s forces.

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