A B-52H bomber from the United States Air Force was photographed over the Owens Valley in California, carrying two unidentified weapons that resemble the new stealth nuclear missile AGM-181 LRSO.
The images, taken by aviation photographer Ian Recchio on October 29, 2025, show the aircraft with typical test markings and specific weapon details, such as an inverted “T”-shaped tail and folding wings, reinforcing the resemblance to the cruise missile designed to replace the AGM-86B.
The AGM-181 LRSO (Long-Range Standoff) missile is designed to strike strategic targets with nuclear warheads while remaining out of reach of enemy defenses. It will be compatible with B-52 and B-21 Raider bombers and is part of the U.S. nuclear triad modernization plan. Developed by Raytheon, the program entered the engineering and testing phase in 2021 and has already conducted several successful test flights, validating safe separation, flight control, and engine operation.
Estimated at around $16 billion, the program foresees a cost of approximately $14 million per unit, with production expected to begin in 2027. The LRSO will replace the aging AGM-86B missiles by 2030, with more than a thousand units planned for production.
The B-52 sighting comes amid a series of strategic demonstrations by the U.S. Air Force, similar to a previous test involving a B-1B carrying the GBU-72 bomb — movements interpreted as part of a deliberate policy to showcase military power.
Source: The Aviationist | Photo: Instagram @lookunderocks | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
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