US Air Force reveals new nuclear cruise missile for B-21, B-52 planes

The US Air Force has unveiled the AGM-181A Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) missile, a new nuclear-armed cruise missile developed by Raytheon to replace the aging AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missile. Designed to arm the B-21 Raider stealth bomber and upgraded B-52 Stratofortress, the LRSO features advanced stealth capabilities, resilience against electronic warfare, and precise navigation to operate effectively in contested environments. Armed with the W80-4 thermonuclear warhead, the missile is optimized for low observability, autonomous threat avoidance, and adaptive targeting, enabling it to penetrate advanced air defenses and strike high-value targets from standoff distances. The LRSO is part of a broader integrated strike architecture involving space-based sensors, command-and-control systems, and potentially classified escort aircraft, aimed at enhancing US nuclear deterrence amid growing strategic challenges from Russia and China. Its standoff range offers flexible deterrent options, including forward deployment and mission recall, which are critical for escalation control during crises. Flight testing is underway under secrecy, with operational deployment expected in the latter half of the decade. The program is projected to cost $16 billion for over 1,000 missiles plus $7 billion for lifecycle support, with a unit cost of about $14 million. Plans for a conventional variant have been dropped, leaving the AGM-158 JASSM family to fulfill non-nuclear strike roles. The LRSO addresses a crucial gap in US nuclear capabilities and underscores continued American resolve in great power competition.