The United States has recently revealed its so-called “Air Phantom,” the latest nuclear missile. Analysts quickly concluded that the missile corresponds closely with official representations of the AGM-181, released earlier this year, noting that the similarity is “too significant to ignore.”
Featuring a stealth design and the variable-yield W80-4 warhead, the LRSO is designed to “slip through radar networks” and strike from distances exceeding 2,400 km.
Developed by Raytheon, the missile is set to replace the older AGM-86 and is expected to be deployed on both the B-52 Stratofortress and the new B-21 Raider bombers. The $16 billion program is planned to enter low-rate initial production in 2027.
Strategically, the LRSO provides Washington with a flexible nuclear option—a weapon that can be launched, redirected, or recalled during flight.
