NEWS RELEASE: USAF awards contracts for new nuclear missile to Lockheed, Raytheon Published Aug. 24, 2017 By Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center Public Affairs Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The Air Force is on track to replace the aging AGM-86B Air Launched CruiseMissile with modernized weapon capabilities designed for its nuclear bomberfleet, to include the B-21.Today, the Air Force awarded contracts to Lockheed Martin Corporation andRaytheon Company to mature design concepts and prove developmentaltechnologies for the new Long Range Standoff weapon."This weapon will modernize the air-based leg of the nuclear triad," saidSecretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson. "Deterrence works if ouradversaries know that we can hold at risk things they value. This weaponwill enhance our ability to do so, and we must modernize itcost-effectively."Each company was awarded a contract of approximately $900 million, with anapproximate 54-month period of performance. Upon successful completion ofthe contracts, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center will choose a singlecontractor for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development and Productionand Deployment phases of the program.The current Air Launched Cruise Missile was first fielded in the early 1980swith a 10-year design life, and Lockheed and Raytheon are charged withdeveloping the technologies and demonstrating reliability andmaintainability of a replacement weapon. The aging ALCM will continue toface increasingly significant operational challenges against emergingthreats and reliability challenges until replaced. The Air Force plans tostart fielding LRSO in the late 2020s."Secretary Wilson and I are responsible for organizing, training, equipping,and presenting ready nuclear forces to the Strategic Command commander,"said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein. "The Long RangeStandoff is a critical capability required to support Gen. John Hyten's warplans.""The LRSO will be a reliable, long-ranging and survivable weapon system andan absolutely essential element of the nuclear triad," Gen. Robin Rand,commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, told the House Armed ServicesCommittee's Strategic Forces Subcommittee in May. "The LRSO missile willensure the bomber force continues to hold high-value targets at risk in anevolving threat environment, including targets deep within an area-deniedenvironment.""These contract awards mark another important step in replacing our agingAir Launched Cruise Missiles," said Maj. Gen. Scott Jansson, commander ofthe AFNWC and Air Force program executive officer for strategic systems."Continued competition will help ensure the bomber leg of the nuclear triadis cost-effectively modernized with a survivable, reliable, and crediblestandoff capability."The LRSO program office, located at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is partof the AFNWC Air Delivered Capabilities directorate. Headquartered atKirtland AFB, AFNWC is responsible for synchronizing all aspects of nuclearmateriel management on behalf of Air Force Materiel Command, in directsupport of Air Force Global Strike Command. The center has more than 1,100personnel assigned to 17 locations worldwide, including at Hanscom AFB,Massachusetts; Hill AFB, Utah; Eglin AFB, Florida; Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; andat Ramstein AB, Germany.