Munitions

AGM-86B/C/D Missiles

Also known as
  • AGM-86
  • AGM-86 ALCM
  • AGM-86 CALCM
  • ALCM
  • CALCM

The AGM-86B/C/D missiles are Boeing-built U.S. air-launched cruise missiles developed for B-52 bomber standoff strike. The AGM-86A prototype did not enter production; the longer-range AGM-86B became the nuclear ALCM, while the AGM-86C and AGM-86D CALCM conversions replaced the nuclear payload with conventional blast/fragmentation or penetrating warheads. Air Force material lists AGM-86B as the remaining active-force variant and says the C/D stockpile was demilitarized by October 2022.

AGM-86B/C/D Missiles, Air-launched cruise missile family, Munitions
Image source: AGM-86B/C/D Air-launched Cruise Missile | Wikimedia Commons

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
Air-launched cruise missile family
Service note
Cold War to present
Designed
February 1974-January 1977
Unit cost
AGM-86B: about $1 million; AGM-86C conversion: about $160,000; AGM-86D conversion: about $896,000.
Number built
1,715 AGM-86B missiles completed by October 1986; 200 additional CALCM conversions contracted from excess ALCM inventory during 1996-2001; Air Force inventory figures list 186 AGM-86C and 34 AGM-86D missiles.

Specifications

Propulsion
Williams Research Corp. F-107-WR-10 turbofan engine
Thrust
600 pounds
Dimensions
Length 20 ft 9 in; diameter 24.5 in; wingspan 12 ft
Launch weight
3,150 pounds
Guidance
AGM-86B terrain-contour-matching inertial guidance; AGM-86C/D GPS-aided inertial navigation
Range
AGM-86B: 1,500+ miles; AGM-86C: 600 nautical miles nominal
Speed
AGM-86B: about 550 mph (Mach 0.73); AGM-86C/D: high subsonic nominal
Warheads
AGM-86B nuclear capable; AGM-86C Block 0 2,000-pound-class and Block I 3,000-pound-class conventional blast/fragmentation warheads; AGM-86D 1,200-pound-class advanced unitary penetrating warhead
Carrier loadout
B-52H maximum of 20 missiles: six on each of two external pylons and eight on an internal rotary launcher
Deployment dates
AGM-86B December 1982; AGM-86C January 1991; AGM-86D November 2001
Variants

The family moved from the unproduced AGM-86A prototype to the AGM-86B nuclear ALCM, then to conventional AGM-86C/D CALCM conversions of excess ALCM inventory.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
AGM-86APrototype air-launched cruise missile

Solicited for development and flight test in February 1974; the A model was slightly smaller than the later B, C and D models and did not enter production.

Sources: AGM-86B/C/D Missiles | U.S. Air Force, Air-Launched Cruise Missile (AGM-86) | Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center

AGM-86BNuclear ALCM

Full-scale development began in January 1977; the missile uses terrain-contour-matching updates and entered operational service in December 1982.

Sources: AGM-86B/C/D Missiles | U.S. Air Force

AGM-86C CALCMConventional blast/fragmentation CALCM

Converted from AGM-86B inventory beginning in 1986 with GPS-aided inertial navigation; Block 0 carried a 2,000-pound-class warhead and Block I a 3,000-pound-class warhead.

Sources: AGM-86B/C/D Missiles | U.S. Air Force, Air-Launched Cruise Missile (AGM-86) | Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center

AGM-86D CALCMConventional penetrating-warhead CALCM

Small-inventory CALCM variant with a 1,200-pound-class advanced unitary penetrating warhead; Air Force data lists deployment in November 2001.

Sources: AGM-86B/C/D Missiles | U.S. Air Force, U.S. Air Force Successfully Tests Boeing AGM-86D CALCM

Carrier Aircraft

The Air Force fact sheet identifies the B-52H Stratofortress as the carrier aircraft for the AGM-86B/C/D family.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
B-52 Stratofortress, Long-range heavy bomber, Aircraft & UAVsB-52 StratofortressLong-range heavy bomber

The fact sheet says B-52H bombers carry six AGM-86B/C/D missiles on each of two externally mounted pylons and eight internally on a rotary launcher, for a maximum of 20 missiles per aircraft.

Sources: AGM-86B/C/D Missiles | U.S. Air Force

Timeline

AGM-86B/C/D Missiles Key Events

  1. AGM-86A development begins

    In February 1974, the Air Force solicited development and flight-test proposals for a prototype AGM-86A.

    Sources: AGM-86B/C/D Missiles | U.S. Air Force

  2. AGM-86B full-scale development starts

    The Air Force started full-scale development of the longer-range AGM-86B after the unproduced AGM-86A prototype effort.

    Sources: AGM-86B/C/D Missiles | U.S. Air Force

  3. AGM-86B production begins

    Production of the initial 225 AGM-86B missiles began in fiscal year 1980.

    Sources: AGM-86B/C/D Missiles | U.S. Air Force

  4. AGM-86B becomes operational

    The AGM-86B entered operational service with the 416th Bombardment Wing at Griffiss Air Force Base in December 1982.

    Sources: AGM-86B/C/D Missiles | U.S. Air Force

  5. AGM-86C conversion begins

    In June 1986, the Air Force retrofitted a limited number of AGM-86B missiles with a high-explosive blast/fragmentation warhead and GPS-aided inertial navigation, creating the AGM-86C CALCM.

    Sources: AGM-86B/C/D Missiles | U.S. Air Force

  6. AGM-86B production total completed

    The Air Force fact sheet lists 1,715 AGM-86B missiles completed by October 1986.

    Sources: AGM-86B/C/D Missiles | U.S. Air Force

  7. AGM-86C CALCM enters service

    The conventional AGM-86C variant became operational in January 1991.

    Sources: AGM-86B/C/D Missiles | U.S. Air Force

  8. Block I CALCM conversions contracted

    From 1996 through 2001, the Air Force contracted conversion of excess ALCM inventory to produce 200 additional CALCMs, including Block I upgrades and a small AGM-86D penetrating-warhead inventory.

    Sources: AGM-86B/C/D Missiles | U.S. Air Force, Air-Launched Cruise Missile (AGM-86) | Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center

  9. AGM-86D deployed and flight tested

    Air Force data lists AGM-86D deployment in November 2001, and Boeing reported a B-52-launched AGM-86D test against a hardened buried target complex that month.

    Sources: AGM-86B/C/D Missiles | U.S. Air Force, U.S. Air Force Successfully Tests Boeing AGM-86D CALCM

  10. CALCM retirement

    Air Force Global Strike Command retired the CALCM weapon system in early spring 2019.

    Sources: AGM-86B/C/D Missiles | U.S. Air Force, Air-Launched Cruise Missile (AGM-86) | Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center

  11. AGM-86C/D demilitarization complete

    The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center says the retired AGM-86C/D missiles formerly based at Fairchild, Andersen and Barksdale were demilitarized as of October 2022.

    Sources: Air-Launched Cruise Missile (AGM-86) | Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center

Media

AGM-86B/C/D Missiles Images

AGM-86B/C/D Missiles, Air-launched cruise missile family, Munitions - view 1
Source: Boeing AGM-86B (ALCM) USAF | Wikimedia Commons
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Sources

AGM-86B/C/D Missiles | U.S. Air ForcePublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the AGM-86 family description, manufacturer background, service dates, unit cost, propulsion, guidance, range, speed, warhead split, and number built. Directly supports 1990 Gulf War use by U.S. forces by describing 35 CALCM launches against Iraqi targets in Operation Desert Storm, and directly supports 2001 War in Afghanistan use by listing CALCM combat employment in Operation Enduring Freedom. | Accessed: 2026-07-05Air-Launched Cruise Missile (AGM-86) | Air Force Nuclear Weapons CenterPublisher: Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center | Note: Supports current Air Force service-status wording for AGM-86B and retired/demilitarized AGM-86C/D missiles, plus variant background, conversion chronology, specifications, and deployment dates. | Accessed: 2026-07-05U.S. Air Force Successfully Tests Boeing AGM-86D CALCMPublisher: Boeing | Note: Supports AGM-86D test context, penetrating-warhead role, B-52 launch, precision-guidance description, and CALCM conversion background. | Accessed: 2026-07-05History in the making: final CALCM missile package retiredPublisher: Barksdale Air Force Base | Note: Directly supports 1990 Gulf War use by U.S. B-52G crews in Operation Secret Squirrel and supports broader CALCM employment in Desert Storm, Desert Strike, Desert Fox, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. The Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom references support the matching 1999 Kosovo War / Operation Allied Force, 2001 War in Afghanistan, and 2003 Iraq War rows. | Accessed: 2026-07-05Kosovo/Operation Allied Force After-Action ReportPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports direct 1999 Kosovo War / Operation Allied Force use of AGM-86C CALCMs delivered by B-52s from forward bases in England. | Accessed: 2026-07-05AGM-86/Air-Launched Cruise Missiles | Air Combat CommandPublisher: Air Combat Command | Note: Supports direct 2003 Iraq War use of AGM-86C and AGM-86D missiles in Operation Iraqi Freedom and concise C/D mission, range and warhead context. | Accessed: 2026-07-05AGM-86 ALCM | Air & Space Forces MagazinePublisher: Air & Space Forces Magazine | Note: Directly supports 2001 War in Afghanistan use by U.S. forces by identifying AGM-86D CALCM penetrator use for standoff strikes on hardened, deeply buried targets in Afghanistan. | Accessed: 2026-07-05Operation Iraqi Freedom: By the NumbersPublisher: Combined Forces Air Component Commander | Note: Directly supports 2003 Iraq War use by U.S. forces by listing 153 AGM-86C/D CALCMs expended during Operation Iraqi Freedom and identifying the AGM-86D CALCM hard-target penetrator as a weapon combat first. | Accessed: 2026-07-05AGM-86B/C/D Air-launched Cruise Missile | Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for the in-flight AGM-86B/C/D missile image used on the page. | Accessed: 2026-07-05Boeing AGM-86B (ALCM) USAF | Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for the secondary AGM-86B family gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-07-05