A photo released on November 5 shows the B-52 flying over Owens Valley, California, last week. The aircraft bears distinctive orange markings under its fuselage and wings, identifying it as a test platform. Mounted on the right-wing pylon were two elongated objects featuring folded mid-body wings and downward-pointing vertical stabilizers, with both the nose and tail sections sharply tapered.
David Cenciotti, editor of the military aviation site The Aviationist, noted that the objects closely resemble the only publicly released rendering of the AGM-181 LRSO (Long-Range Standoff) — the next-generation nuclear-armed stealth cruise missile being developed for the U.S. Air Force.
“This may be the first real image of the weapon under development,” Cenciotti said. “The AGM-181 graphic released on June 9 could differ slightly from the actual missile to protect classified details.”
The AGM-181 is designed for stealth, with an estimated range of over 2,500 km, and will replace the AGM-86B, which has a range of about 2,400 km. The LRSO program is considered a top priority for the Air Force as part of the modernization of America’s nuclear triad, and it will be a key weapon for the upcoming B-21 stealth bomber.
Experts suggest the B-52’s daytime flight carrying the secretive weapon was not coincidental, possibly serving as a response to Russia’s recent demonstration of its Burevestnik nuclear cruise missile. The U.S. military has reportedly conducted several classified tests of the AGM-181.
In 2024, the Air Force’s acquisition chief stated that the AGM-181 program was “on track to meet schedule requirements, ready for delivery at any time, and maintaining strong cost control.”
The U.S. has built a total of 1,715 AGM-86B missiles but reduced its stockpile to 528 units by 2007. These missiles are expected to be retired by 2030 and replaced by approximately 1,020 AGM-181 missiles.
As of the end of 2022, the AGM-181 program had an estimated total cost of $16 billion, with each missile expected to cost around $14 million. The Air Force plans to announce a low-rate initial production decision for the missile in fiscal year 2027.