The AGM-181A is the US Air Force’s newest cruise missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Its acquisition signals America’s intent to win the nuclear arms race against China.   

Raytheon has unveiled the AGM-181A LRSO, a stealthy nuclear cruise missile with a 1,500-mile range and adjustable 5-150 kiloton yield. The new weapon is scheduled for deployment with the B-21 Raider and B-52 Stratofortress. 

The development of the AGM-181A signals that the United States is aggressively pushing across multiple high-tech aerospace domains to keep pace with China’s surging weapons development programs. 

What Is the AGM-181A Missile?

Development of the AGM-181A started in 2015, with tech maturation contracts awarded in 2017. The design features a very low-observable platform with inverted fins and swept wings. The benefit of such a design is the missile’s ability to operate in GPS-denied environments. 

The AGM-181A uses a Williams F107 turbofan engine for propulsion, which provides a range of 1,500 miles or more. The new missile can reach subsonic cruise speeds, but cannot reach supersonic speeds, as is becoming the trend in missile development. The missile delivers a variable-yield W80-4 thermonuclear warhead, which can be modified to carry anywhere between 5 and 150 kilotons. Each unit costs $13 million. 

By late 2022, Raytheon had conducted at least nine test flights of the AGM-181A, including powered flights and B-52 separation tests. Several tests were carried out using a mock nuclear warhead.

The US Air Force is set to order 1,020 missiles, including 67 for development and testing. In total, the program is set to cost between $13 and 16 billion. The procurement schedule will not fully begin until after 2027, at which point the program will enter full production. 

Why Does the US Air Force Want the AGM-181A?

The AGM 181A LRSO strengthens the airborne leg of America’s nuclear triad, which ensures survivability against advanced Chinese and Russian air defense systems. The missile provides a dial-a-yield flexibility for tactical or strategic scenarios, which further enhances deterrence options. The missile’s development aligns with America’s nuclear modernization efforts, which are part of a projected $1 trillion investment in nuclear forces over the next decade. 

The AGM-181A is hardly the first of its kind in the world. China has a variety of nuclear-capable cruise missiles. The CJ-10 is a long-range land-attack cruise missile (LACM), which can also be air-launched. The DH-10 is the ground-launched variant. The CJ-10 has a 2,200-km range, while the DH-10 has a reported 4,000-km range. Each can carry a 500-kg conventional warhead; some reports also indicate the missiles can carry nuclear warheads. The missile relies upon INS, GPS, and terrain mapping for precision guidance.

China also has the CJ-100/DF-100, which are supersonic/hypersonic variants. Reports suggest these missiles can reach speeds of Mach 4 or 5 (3,000-3,800 mph), with a range of up to 3,000 km. The CJ-100/DF-1000 is in development, and is intended to expand the PLA’s long-range conventional precision strike capability. 

The US AGM-181A is a step towards countering China’s increasingly diverse missile architecture. The two superpowers are engaged in a competition to surpass each other in nuclear deterrence capabilities. Winning the nuclear arms race will be vital in deciding whether the United States maintains its global hegemonic status or cedes it to China.

About the Author: Harrison Kass 

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

Image: Shutterstock / Michael Fitzsimmons.

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