The United States Air Force (USAF) has recently released concept art of the AGM-181A Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) advanced stealth cruise missile, which will incorporate the W80-4 thermonuclear warhead.

Specifically, the LRSO air-to-ground nuclear missile is set to replace the ageing AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCMs) and is expected to equip both the sixth-generation B-21 Raider stealth strategic bombers and the upgraded B-52 Stratofortress bombers in the coming years.

The USAF has carried out numerous tests of the LRSO missile under strict secrecy due to the strategic significance of this weapon system, US officials have stated only that the development programme remains on track and within schedule.

It is noted that the digital rendering of the LRSO is not intended to reveal the missile’s final design. However, analysts believe it will be a subsonic missile with greater range than its predecessor, the AGM-86B ALCM, and will feature low observability characteristics.

Moreover, it is expected to be capable of operating in hostile environments with a high presence of electronic warfare systems. As such, its role as a standoff weapon — launched from outside the effective range of enemy air defence missile systems — necessitates high levels of operational endurance.

A report by the US Department of Defense estimated the cost of procuring 1,020 LRSO missiles at approximately $16 billion, with logistics and sustainment over 30 years (FOS) projected at around $7 billion.

However, more recent estimates indicate that each LRSO missile costs approximately $14 million.

Also read: USAF | Maiden flight images of the B-21 Raider