The Air Force announced Wednesday it awarded $900 million contracts each to Lockheed Martin Corp. and Raytheon Co. to begin preliminary work on a new nuclear-capable cruise missile for the B-21 stealth bomber.
"This weapon will modernize the air-based leg of the nuclear triad," Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson said in a statement. "Deterrence works if our adversaries know that we can hold at risk things they value. This weapon will enhance our ability to do so, and we must modernize it cost-effectively."
According to the Air Force, each company was given a 54-month contract of about $900 million. At the end of that timeline, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center will choose a single contractor to go forward with development with the Long Range Standoff weapon — known as an LRSO.
The current Air Launched Cruise Missile was first fielded in the early 1980s; the new weapon is planned for use beginning in the late 2020s.
Lockheed will perform work at its Orlando, Florida, facility while Raytheon will use in Tucson, Arizona, as its facility, the release said.
The LRSO is meant to be launched from aircraft such as the B-52 Stratofortress, B-2 Spirit and future B-21 Long-Range Strike Bomber, the online outlet DoD Buzz reported.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.