Munitions

Long Range Standoff Weapon

Also known as
  • AGM-181
  • AGM-181A
  • LRSO
  • Long Range Stand-Off Weapon
  • Long Range Standoff Weapon

The Long Range Standoff Weapon, also known as LRSO or AGM-181, is a U.S. Air Force nuclear air-launched cruise missile in development by Raytheon to replace the AGM-86B Air Launched Cruise Missile. Public program material describes a survivable standoff weapon for legacy and future bomber aircraft, with modular open-system architecture and a W80-4 warhead interface coordinated through the U.S. nuclear weapons enterprise.

Long Range Standoff Weapon, Nuclear air-launched cruise missile, Munitions
Image source: Long Range Standoff Weapon
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Built by
Raytheon
Type
Nuclear air-launched cruise missile
Service note
2010s-present development
Developed from
AGM-86B Air Launched Cruise Missile

Specifications

Role
Survivable nuclear standoff cruise missile
Designation
AGM-181 / AGM-181A
Replacement
Intended to replace the AGM-86B Air Launched Cruise Missile
Launch platforms
Legacy and future bomber aircraft, with public sources identifying B-52 and B-21 integration
Warhead interface
W80-4 life-extension program warhead for LRSO
Architecture
Modular open-system architecture
Program status
Engineering and manufacturing development, developmental testing, and planned initial procurement
Carrier Aircraft

Public Air Force and budget material describes LRSO as a bomber-carried weapon for legacy and future nuclear-capable aircraft.

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

The FY 2027 Air Force procurement justification funds Bomber Weapon Interface Equipment for LRSO integration, and designation references identify the B-52 bomber line as a planned AGM-181 carrier.

Sources: FY 2027 Air Force Aircraft and Missile Procurement, Raytheon AGM-181 LRSO

B-21 Raider, Stealth strategic bomber, Aircraft & UAVsB-21 RaiderStealth strategic bomber

Air Force program material describes LRSO integration with future bomber aircraft, while current designation references identify the B-21A as a planned AGM-181 carrier.

Sources: Long Range Standoff Weapon, Raytheon AGM-181 LRSO

Why the carrier links matter

LRSO remains relationship-only in the catalog because public sources describe development, platform integration, and deterrence roles, but do not document combat use in a named conflict.

Sources: Long Range Standoff Weapon, FY 2027 Air Force Aircraft and Missile Procurement

Replacement And Warhead Context

LRSO is best read as a replacement and integration program, not as an operational conflict weapon. Public sources tie it to the aging AGM-86B ALCM, bomber interface work, and the W80-4 warhead life-extension program.

ContextCatalog link or componentSourced detail
PredecessorAGM-86B/C/D Missiles, Air-launched cruise missile family, MunitionsAGM-86B/C/D MissilesThe Air Force frames LRSO as the replacement for the aging AGM-86B nuclear air-launched cruise missile.
Carrier integrationB-52 Stratofortress, Long-range heavy bomber, Aircraft & UAVsB-52 Stratofortress and B-21 Raider, Stealth strategic bomber, Aircraft & UAVsB-21 RaiderBudget and program material describe LRSO integration work for bomber aircraft, including Bomber Weapon Interface Equipment.
Warhead programW80-4 life-extension programNNSA identifies W80-4 as the warhead program supporting LRSO and tracks it through the nuclear-warhead development process.

Sources: Long Range Standoff Weapon; Air Force releases request for proposal for new nuclear cruise missile; FY 2027 Air Force Aircraft and Missile Procurement; W80-4 Life Extension Program.

Timeline

Long Range Standoff Weapon Key Events

  1. Air Force releases LRSO request for proposals

    The Air Force released the LRSO request for proposals as the replacement path for the aging AGM-86B nuclear air-launched cruise missile.

    Sources: Air Force releases request for proposal for new nuclear cruise missile

  2. Technology maturation contracts awarded

    The Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin and Raytheon contracts for the technology-maturation and risk-reduction phase of the LRSO program.

    Sources: USAF awards contracts for new nuclear missile to Lockheed, Raytheon

  3. Raytheon selected as sole contractor

    The Air Force selected Raytheon as the single contractor to continue LRSO design work ahead of engineering and manufacturing development.

    Sources: Air Force selects single contractor for long-range standoff nuclear weapon

  4. Engineering and manufacturing development begins

    The Air Force awarded Raytheon the LRSO engineering and manufacturing development contract for a 66-month period of performance.

    Sources: Air Force awards contract for new long-range missile system

  5. W80-4 moves into production engineering

    NNSA reported that the W80-4 life-extension program, which supports LRSO, had entered Phase 6.4 production engineering.

    Sources: W80-4 Life Extension Program

  6. Initial procurement funding requested

    The FY 2027 Air Force procurement justification requested LRSO Lot 1 procurement and advance procurement supporting later production lots.

    Sources: FY 2027 Air Force Aircraft and Missile Procurement

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AGM-158 JASSM, Air-launched standoff cruise missile, MunitionsMunitionsAGM-158 JASSMAir-launched standoff cruise missileThe AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile is Lockheed Martin's low-observable, subsonic air-launched cruise missile family built to let bomber and fighter aircraft strike defended, high-value targets from standoff range. Its documented combat record includes baseline AGM-158A launches from B-1B bombers in the 2018 Syria missile strikes, AGM-158B use after the 2019 Baghdadi raid, reported Operation Rough Rider use against Houthi targets, and large-scale JASSM-family employment during the 2026 Iran War.
AGM-86B/C/D Missiles, Air-launched cruise missile family, MunitionsMunitionsAGM-86B/C/D MissilesAir-launched cruise missile familyThe 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.
W80-4 Life Extension Program, Nuclear warhead life-extension program, MunitionsMunitionsW80-4 Life Extension ProgramNuclear warhead life-extension programThe W80-4 Life Extension Program is the National Nuclear Security Administration modernization path for extending the W80-1 cruise-missile warhead into the U.S. Air Force Long Range Standoff Weapon. Official NNSA, Sandia, LLNL, GAO, and congressional-budget sources frame it as a stockpile life-extension program rather than a conflict-use weapon: the design moved into Phase 6.4 production engineering in March 2023, a first canned subassembly was certified at Y-12 in September 2025, and full-warhead first production remains scheduled for 2027.
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Sources

Long Range Standoff WeaponPublisher: Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center | Note: Supports official program background, survivable nuclear cruise-missile role, launch-platform context, modular open-system architecture, developmental-testing status, and the official render used for the image. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Air Force releases request for proposal for new nuclear cruise missilePublisher: Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center | Note: Supports the 2016 LRSO request-for-proposals milestone, AGM-86B replacement framing, and early bomber-fleet integration context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29USAF awards contracts for new nuclear missile to Lockheed, RaytheonPublisher: Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center | Note: Supports the 2017 technology-maturation and risk-reduction awards to Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Air Force selects single contractor for long-range standoff nuclear weaponPublisher: Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center | Note: Supports the 2020 selection of Raytheon as the single contractor for LRSO design work before engineering and manufacturing development. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Air Force awards contract for new long-range missile systemPublisher: Hill Air Force Base | Note: Supports the 2021 engineering and manufacturing development contract award to Raytheon and the 66-month period of performance. | Accessed: 2026-06-29W80-4 Life Extension ProgramPublisher: U.S. Department of Energy | Note: Supports W80-4 warhead life-extension context for LRSO, Phase 6.4 production-engineering status, and warhead-program background. | Accessed: 2026-06-29FY 2027 Air Force Aircraft and Missile ProcurementPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports FY 2027 procurement context, Lot 1 and advance-procurement funding, and Bomber Weapon Interface Equipment integration work for LRSO. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Raytheon AGM-181 LRSOPublisher: Designation-Systems.net | Note: Supports AGM-181/AGM-181A designation context and public launch-platform references for B-52 and B-21 integration. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Long Range Standoff Weapon | DVIDSPublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for the 2025 official LRSO rendering. | Accessed: 2026-06-29