Earlier this month, the U.S. Air Force unveiled its new AGM-181A Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) nuclear cruise missile, which will equip its future B-21 Raider stealth bombers. This marks a major step forward in replacing the aging AGM-86B Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM). The LRSO program is considered a key component of the Air Force’s broader nuclear deterrence modernization efforts and represents a critical capability for the B-21 Raider, which is also capable of carrying B61-12 and B61-13 nuclear bombs.
Notably, the image released by the U.S. Air Force on June 2 is the first made public since the inception of the LRSO program. While the image is a digital rendering likely omitting specific details for security reasons, it reveals a missile with a trapezoidal shape, foldable wings similar to its predecessor, and a vertical tail fin located underneath, flanked by two slightly inclined horizontal fins. One striking feature is the absence of any visible air intake—particularly unusual given expectations that this subsonic missile would build upon recent DARPA designs developed under the HAWC program.
Broadly speaking, the Air Force presents the new LRSO as a long-range missile specifically designed to carry out missions in heavily contested environments saturated with enemy air defenses, allowing the launching aircraft to remain at a safe standoff distance. The weapon is expected to equip not only future B-21 Raiders but also the B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers.
A brief history of the newly unveiled missile shows that it has been developed by Raytheon, the prime contractor selected for the program in 2020. By 2021, the LRSO entered the Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development (EMD) phase, and in 2022 it underwent several flight tests to validate integration with the B-52, including engine ignition and control system performance.
Regarding procurement figures, previous reports from U.S. defense media citing Pentagon documents indicate that the Air Force aims to acquire approximately 1,020 LRSO missiles. As of 2022, the estimated unit cost was around $14 million—$4 million more than initially projected. If confirmed, this would nearly double the current inventory of AGM-86B missiles, although it still falls short of the 1,715 units previously maintained before reductions began in 2007. The remaining AGM-86Bs are expected to be retired by 2030.
Cover image credit: Aimee Malone
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