Imagine a missile that launches a stealth attack, evading enemy detection with precision. This is America's new AGM-181 LRSO missile, short for Long Range Stand-Off. Recently sighted for the first time in California by a keen plane spotter, its existence, once secretive under Pentagon's watch, has now been unveiled to the world.
The LRSO is a revolutionary air-launched cruise missile equipped with nuclear capabilities. Its design allows it to penetrate enemy territories for a strike without endangering fighter aircraft. It's slated to replace the AGM-86B missiles in service since 1982, promising new heights in defensive capabilities.
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Under former President Trump (2017-2021), the development of this missile was significantly accelerated, spearheaded by the Raytheon Company. Currently undergoing testing phases, it is expected to be fully operational by 2030. In June 2025, the first images surfaced showcasing it suspended beneath a B-52 bomber. It will soon find its place on the advanced B-21 Raider, the U.S.'s cutting-edge stealth bomber.
The message is clear:
a stern warning to Russia and China – America's military prowess grows stronger.
Source: aajtak
This missile's stealth features make it virtually invisible to radar detection systems.
Name: AGM-181 LRSO (Long Range Stand-Off)
Type: Air-launched nuclear cruise missile
Length: 6.4 meters (21 feet) – similar to a compact car
Width: 0.62 meters (24.5 inches) – slim and lightweight
Range: Over 2,500 kilometers – from New York to London!
Speed: Subsonic (approximately 850 km/hour) – silently navigates
Warhead: W80-4 nuclear head, variable yield 5 to 150 kilotons – ten times the power of the Hiroshima bomb at 150 kilotons
Guidance System: Inertial, GPS, and TERCOM – precision targeting and route flexibility
Stealth Features: Minimal radar signature, folding wings (unfold during flight), vertical tail underneath – adeptly evades enemy air defense systems
Weight: Approximately 1,360 kilograms (Similar to previous models like AGM-86)
Launch Platforms: B-52H/J Bomber and B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber
Operational: Around 2030 – currently in test flights
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With these specifications, it stands superior to older missiles, deftly outmaneuvering enemy Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS). It can carry out stealthy attacks from 500 miles away without detection.
Imagine the scenario: A B-52 bomber skims the enemy's ocean borders. The pilot activates the launch. The missile flies at low altitudes, evading radar. Utilizing GPS and sophisticated mapping, it hones in on its target, ensuring devastation. With adjustable yields, it can inflict damage to varying scales – a small yield damages cities, a large one poses greater threats. This serves as a deterrent, creating a fearsome response should adversaries contemplate an attack.
Approved during Trump's administration, development rode a wave of secrecy with its budget undisclosed. In 2020, the first contract was awarded to Raytheon. By 2025, it took to the skies for initial test flights. Come June, the first photo leaked, revealing its form to the public. Pentagon affirms this missile's purpose: an upgrade to older arsenals, countering Russian hypersonic weapons and China's missile capabilities.
