"The Naval Air Systems Command intends to enter into sole‑source negotiations with Lockheed Martin," a government notice dated October 7 states, signaling a formal push to integrate the stealthy AGM‑158C Long Range Anti‑Ship Missile (LRASM) onto the Air Force’s B‑52 Stratofortress.
NAVAIR’s procurement move and the proposed contract
The October 7 notice from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) says the command plans to enter sole‑source negotiations with Lockheed Martin and then award a cost‑plus‑fixed‑fee delivery order to carry out LRASM integration on the B‑52. The planned work described in the notice includes missile software updates, associated testing, repairs to test assets, and failure review boards. The notice does not provide a schedule for completing the integration or for fielding the capability.
What LRASM brings: sensors, autonomy, and reported range
LRASM is described in the notice as a stealthy, long‑range anti‑ship weapon derived from the AGM‑158 JASSM family but optimized to find and attack ships in contested maritime environments. Its guidance suite combines GPS‑assisted inertial navigation, onboard sensors including an imaging infrared seeker for terminal acquisition, an electronic support measures (ESM) system with integrated route planning, an onboard autonomous target‑recognition capability, and an in‑flight datalink for threat updates. The baseline LRASM is reported to strike targets between 200 and 300 miles, while a forthcoming C‑3 version is expected to have reach similar to the JASSM‑ER — reported to be around 600 miles.
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See what we buildB‑52 integration work: software, separation testing, and open questions
The Air Force’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal — cited in the notice — lays out specific technical tasks intended to enable LRASM and JASSM variants on the B‑52. Planned FY2027 work includes incorporating missiles’ operational flight programs into the B‑52’s baseline bomber software; validating safe weapon separation from both wing‑mounted stations and the internal carriage launcher; updating armament interfaces; and completing system‑safety testing. The government notice makes clear, however, that while the B‑52 already carries JASSM‑family weapons and the missiles share dimensions, it does not specify how many LRASMs the bomber would ultimately carry, nor does it provide a timeline for fielding.
How LRASM fits into the bomber force and past integrations
LRASM has already been integrated onto other platforms. The weapon is established on the Navy’s F/A‑18E/F Super Hornet and the Air Force’s B‑1B Lancer, and the Air Force recently disclosed LRASM capability on the B‑2 — a capability that had not previously been public. Publicly discussed integration efforts also include the F‑15E, F‑15EX, F‑16C/D, certain F‑35 variants, and the Navy’s P‑8A Poseidon. The planned B‑52 integration would make all three Air Force strategic bombers capable of employing LRASM and add another long‑range maritime strike option to the bomber force.
What this means for the Air Force, the Navy, and Indo‑Pacific operations
- For the Air Force: Integrating LRASM onto the B‑52 would expand the number of potential launch platforms the service can bring to long‑range anti‑ship missions and leverage the B‑52’s substantial payload capacity and endurance to deliver larger missile volumes from standoff distances.
- For the Navy: A bomber‑launched LRASM would provide a complementary source of anti‑ship fires to carrier and surface combatant forces, increasing options for coordinated strikes and complicating an adversary’s interception problem.
- For Indo‑Pacific operations: The notice frames the effort against increasingly capable adversary naval forces in the region. The combination of LRASM’s long reach, reduced observability, and autonomous terminal targeting is presented as a way to strike high‑value surface vessels while reducing launch aircraft exposure to layered air defenses.
The NAVAIR notice formalizes a step that has been under study for years — a November 2019 report noted a $10 million FY2019 study into B‑52 LRASM integration — and mirrors broader planning already reflected in the FY2027 budget and recent operational disclosures such as a B‑2 LRASM deployment during Valiant Shield 2026 on June 27, 2026. Key specifics remain to be set: the number of LRASMs a B‑52 will carry, the precise fielding timeline, and final certification of separation and safety across internal and external stations. Those details will determine how quickly and at what scale the bomber force can add this new maritime strike option.
https://www.twz.com/air/b-52-to-get-stealthy-agm-158c-long-range-anti-ship-missiles
