A B-52 May Have Just Revealed America’s New Stealth Nuclear Missile

It started as a quiet afternoon in Owens Valley, California. Aviation photographer Ian Recchio was scanning the sky when he heard the radio call sign “Torch52.” Moments later, a U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress appeared at about 5,000 feet, sunlight flashing off its wings. Nothing unusual for the veteran bomber—until Recchio looked closer through his lens.

Under its right wing were two long, dark objects. At first glance, they resembled standard ordnance, but the shape was off. Each had an inverted T-tail, fold-out wings beneath the fuselage, and a wedge-shaped nose and tail. Recchio snapped several photos before the aircraft climbed away. Later, when the images were examined, aviation analysts began to notice something remarkable. The mystery payload looked almost identical to renderings of the AGM-181A Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) missile, the Air Force’s next-generation stealth nuclear cruise missile.

A Secret Weapon in Plain Sight

The B-52 carried bright orange test markings, the kind used only on developmental aircraft. The weapons were attached to the outer pylons of a Multiple Ejector Rack, which can hold up to six missiles. No identifying stencils or codes were visible. But the configuration, the angles, the proportions—everything matched the LRSO’s known design traits.

Officially, the Air Force has not confirmed the weapon’s identity. The images could depict another test article or aerodynamic prototype. Yet the timing is hard to ignore.

Inside the LRSO Program

The AGM-181A LRSO is meant to replace the aging AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missile, which has armed America’s B-52s since the early 1980s. Developed by Raytheon, the LRSO combines stealth shaping, digital flight control, and an air-breathing engine designed for long-range subsonic flight. It carries the modernized W80-4 nuclear warhead and will equip both the B-52H Stratofortress and the upcoming B-21 Raider stealth bomber.

The Air Force describes the LRSO as a “survivable standoff weapon,” built to penetrate advanced air defenses and reach strategic targets from great distances. It is central to the modernization of the U.S. nuclear triad. With an estimated total program cost of $16 billion and a projected unit price around $14 million, more than 1,000 missiles are expected to replace the current ALCM inventory by 2030.

So far, the program has completed multiple separation and flight tests. Air Force acquisition officials told Congress in 2024 that the weapon was “on track” and performing well. The first low-rate production decision is anticipated by 2027.