A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress flying over California’s Owens Valley was photographed carrying two wedge-shaped stores resembling the AGM-181A Long Range Standoff (LRSO) missile. The images, captured on October 29, 2025, suggest that flight testing of the new nuclear cruise missile is advancing ahead of its planned low-rate production phase later this decade.
Matching the AGM-181A Design
The photographed objects feature a pronounced wedge forebody, folding ventral wings, and an inverted T-tail — elements consistent with the official rendering of the AGM-181A released in June 2025. The absence of a visible air intake also aligns with earlier imagery, indicating a dorsal or concealed design. Analysts agree that the stores do not match any in-service conventional weapon, reinforcing the likelihood that they represent LRSO prototypes.
Development Timeline and Production Outlook
Following the competitive YAGM-180/181 phase, Raytheon was selected as the prime contractor in 2020, with an Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract awarded in 2021. Subsequent test campaigns validated engine ignition, separation, and navigation. Low-rate initial production is planned for FY2027, with operational capability expected by 2029–2030. The U.S. Air Force plans to acquire around 1,087 missiles at an estimated total program cost of $16 billion.
Capabilities and Design
The AGM-181A is a long-range, subsonic, air-breathing nuclear cruise missile capable of operating in GPS-denied and heavily jammed environments. Powered by a Williams F107-WI-106 turbofan, it reportedly exceeds 2,500 km in range. It carries the W80-4 nuclear warhead with selectable yields of approximately 5 or 150 kilotons. The missile’s modular digital architecture is intended to simplify upgrades and sustainment over its 30-year service life.
Strengthening the Airborne Leg of the Triad
The LRSO will be integrated on both upgraded B-52H and B-21 Raider bombers, replacing the aging AGM-86B ALCM. The system ensures that the U.S. maintains a survivable, flexible, and credible nuclear strike capability well into the 2030s. By launching from outside dense air-defense envelopes, the missile allows aircraft to avoid penetration missions while maintaining deterrence reach.
Strategic Context
Just days after Russia’s latest Burevestnik announcement, the U.S. test appearance of a B-52 carrying what seems to be the LRSO serves as a visible reminder of parallel modernization efforts within the nuclear triad. For Washington, the message is clear — the next generation of air-delivered deterrence is moving from design to flight.
