A Royal Australian Air Force McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet (s/n A21-46) firing an AIM-7M Sparrow missile. The aircraft also carries another AIM-7, two AGM-84 Harpoon missiles and two AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles.A Royal Australian Air Force McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet (s/n A21-46) firing an AIM-7M Sparrow missile. The aircraft also carries another AIM-7, two AGM-84 Harpoon missiles and two AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles.Key Points: The U.S. military showcased the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) during the RIMPAC 24 exercise, with an F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet successfully sinking two decommissioned ships.-Developed by DARPA, the LRASM is stealthy, autonomous, and radar-evading, offering a critical edge in anti-ship warfare.-Its 200-nautical-mile range and GPS-assisted navigation make it a game-changer, particularly against the numerically superior Chinese Navy.-Capable of deployment on the B-1B Lancer and potentially the F-35, the LRASM could close the missile gap in the Indo-Pacific. Its successful testing signals progress in countering China’s naval dominance.U.S. Navy Tests Advanced Anti-Ship Missile in RIMPAC ExerciseMilitary exercises can be expensive, humdrum affairs in which the friendly forces go through the motions and only conduct tried and true tactics. But sometimes, the drills can be a proving ground for whiz-bang weapons. Such was the case with the last Exercise Rim of the Pacific or “RIMPAC 24” in July. An F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet successfully fired a new AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). This was a noteworthy feat that destroyed two decommissioned ships.