U.S. Air Force Reveals First Image of New AGM-181A Nuclear Cruise Missile for B-21 and B-52 Bombers
On 9 June 2025, the United States Air Force officially released the first-ever rendering of its next-generation AGM-181A Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) nuclear cruise missile. This new missile is being developed as a key part of America’s efforts to modernize its nuclear triad — the combination of land-based missiles, submarine-launched missiles, and air-launched weapons that together provide a powerful nuclear deterrent.
The AGM-181A is intended to replace the AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM), which has been in service since the early 1980s. While the AGM-86B has served well over the years, new technology and growing threats from advanced enemy air defense systems have made it necessary to develop a more capable and survivable weapon.
Designed for B-21 and B-52 Bombers
The new LRSO will be carried by both the B-52H Stratofortress and the B-21 Raider — the U.S. Air Force's upcoming stealth bomber. For the B-21, the missile has been described as a "critical capability," alongside its ability to deploy the latest B61-12 and B61-13 nuclear bombs. Notably, the more powerful B61-13 bomb is expected to be carried exclusively by the B-21 Raider.
First Look at the Missile
While the exact design remains classified for security reasons, the rendering revealed by the Air Force shows a missile with a trapezoidal-shaped body, wedge-like nose, and tail sections. It includes folding wings, a vertical tail located underneath the missile, and slightly angled horizontal tail fins — similar in concept to the AGM-86B but with modern aerodynamic refinements. Some critical features, like its air intake for the engine, have been intentionally left out of the image to maintain operational secrecy.
Expected Features and Capabilities
Although official specifications have not been fully disclosed, available information suggests the AGM-181A LRSO will use a subsonic, air-breathing jet engine and is designed as a long-range, precision standoff weapon. This means it can be launched from a bomber aircraft while remaining far from enemy airspace, allowing it to strike heavily defended targets without risking the bomber itself.
Importantly, the missile is built to penetrate advanced Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS), which are becoming more sophisticated in countries like Russia and China. Its combination of stealthy design, long range, and nuclear capability ensures it can deliver strategic deterrence even in highly contested airspace.
Development Progress
Defense contractor Raytheon was selected as the prime developer of the LRSO program in 2020. The missile entered its Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development (EMD) phase in 2021. A year later, the program successfully completed nine major flight tests, which demonstrated its ability to separate safely from the B-52 bomber, its engine performance, stability in flight, and overall flight control reliability.
According to Andrew Hunter, the former Service Acquisition Executive of the U.S. Air Force, the program remains on schedule and within budget, steadily moving toward becoming a fully operational capability.
The AGM-181A Long-Range Standoff Missile represents a crucial step in strengthening America’s nuclear deterrent for the coming decades. With its ability to strike from long distances while evading modern air defenses, it will serve as a key tool in maintaining strategic balance and protecting U.S. interests worldwide.
As the world enters an era of renewed nuclear competition and increasingly capable air defense systems, weapons like the AGM-181A ensure that the U.S. Air Force can reliably deliver a powerful response if ever required.
