The USA will receive a new air defense missile based on ERAM for Ukraine: 8 times cheaper than Patriot, — TWZ

The CAMP program will reportedly build on developments used in other US low-cost winged weapons projects, including initiatives related to the Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM). On this occasion, Defense Express analysts noted that the CAMP initiative is being promoted primarily by ERAM, a project that the US is developing specifically for Ukraine. At the same time, several contractors are involved in it, including Zone 5 Technologies and CoAspire.

And the cost of a unit of such cruise missiles is estimated at approximately 250,000 dollars, which became a reference point for further decisions to reduce the price. It was stated that the CAMP missile should have a modular design and combine affordable cost with manufacturability. It is expected that it can be launched both from ground platforms and from air platforms. However, the specific tactical and technical requirements of the program have not yet been disclosed.

The documentation mentions only the general requirements for modular architecture and the combination of "technology with an affordable price". Experts note that the final cost of CAMP may fall below the stated level if the target production volume is reached - up to 3,500 missiles per year (for comparison, Patriot missiles cost 4-6 million dollars and produce 500 units per year).

As for the price of the future CAMP, it can be compared with existing ammunition: for example, the AIM-9X Sidewinder, used by the United States for more than 20 years, costs in the range of several hundred thousand dollars. Large-scale production of CAMP should ensure a lower cost, which is a key objective of the program. Previously, we wrote in detail about the ERAM system, which is designed to hit targets at a distance of up to 500 km.