There are plans to integrate the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) into the payload of the US Navy’s B-52 “Stratofortresses” fleet. The Navy will reportedly contract Lockheed Martin to make this happen.
The plan appears to be to effectively convert B-52s into long-range flying anti-ship missile silos. This would provide the Navy with some interesting tactical options, particularly for conflicts with rivals like China.
It will also combine state-of-the-art technology with one of its oldest, the B-52, now over 70 years old. First developed in the 1950s, this aircraft has enormous weapons payload capacity and intercontinental range.
The AGM-158C LRASM, in case you don’t know, is a stealthy, air-launched cruise missile. It is specifically designed to hunt and kill warships, including moving ships in contested environments.
Old dog, new tricks
Crucially, these missiles have autonomous guidance, meaning they can hunt down and destroy targets in a designated “kill box” on their own. This means they can be sent into difficult terrain to find potential targets without the need for specific coordinates.
Currently, the B-52 is already equipped with the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), which is essentially LRASM’s land-attack cousin. In theory, this should make integrating the latter easier than starting from scratch.
However, the targeting software and operational testing still require significant work. Crucially, this is a planned integration contract and not an announcement that B-52s are already operationally equipped with LRASM.
If successful, each B-52 should be able to carry similar LRASM payloads to JASSM, which currently stands at around 20 per airframe. Therefore, only a few LRASM-capable B-52s could provide the Navy with much potential firepower if needed.
“A handful of B-52s will be able to fire more weapons at sea targets and at much greater distances than the Navy’s carrier aircraft can in a day,” said retired Air Force Col. Mark Gunzinger Aerospace Force Magazine.
But why the need? Well, currently the Navy relies on submarines, surface warships and attack aircraft like its F/A-18 Super Hornet to fire these missiles. Each has its advantages, but also its limitations.
For example, carrier-based aircraft have a relatively short range without fuel, and ships have limited missile capacity. Moving ships, such as aircraft carriers, close enough to contested areas to fire such weapons is also inherently risky.
Not without risk
But even integration with the B-52 will not be foolproof. Each LRASM has a range of approximately 200 miles (320 km). That would mean that even if a B-52 takes off from a base thousands of miles away, it would still have to get relatively close to fire its missiles.
And the B-52 isn’t exactly the stealthiest aircraft. For capable enemy forces like China, this would mean that the B-52 would need supporting assets to either divert attention from them or protect them directly.
“As an accurate, stealthy and survivable cruise missile, LRASM provides multi-service, multi-platform and multi-mission capabilities for offensive air defense warfare,” said Lockheed Martin spokesman Scott Swofford.
“By leveraging Lockheed Martin’s expertise in successful cruise missile production, LRASM brings low-risk, long-term, flexible capabilities to the ground warfare aircraft environment that no other legacy weapon offers,” he added.
