Recently, images of a classified nuclear missile belonging to US President Donald Trump have surfaced, marking the first public sighting of the weapon.
During a photography session capturing military aircraft in California’s Owen Valley, aviation enthusiast Ian Recchio captured a US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress carrying a mysterious payload beneath its right wing on October 29. Speculations suggest that the weapon could be the AGM-181 Long Range Stand Off Weapon (LRSO), as reported by The Aviationist.
The AGM-181 LRSO, touted as the Air Force’s cutting-edge stealth nuclear cruise missile, is set to equip both the B-52 and the newly developed B-21 stealth bomber.
The distinct warhead observed on the aircraft closely resembles the publicly released depiction of the AGM-181 LRSO from June, as highlighted by The Aviationist. Additionally, the B-52 exhibits customary orange test flight markings, though independent verification of the specific missile remains pending.
The AGM-181 LRSO, presently undergoing testing, is anticipated to house the W80-4 warhead with a reported yield ranging from 5 to 150 kilotons, approximately ten times the power of the Hiroshima bomb in 1945. This missile, scheduled for operational deployment by 2030, aims to replace the aging AGM-86 ALCM from the Cold War era.
Recchio recounted his experience to The Aviationist, mentioning how he and a friend were spotting planes in Owens Valley when they detected the B-52 entering low altitude airspace. Despite the aircraft climbing to 5,000 feet as it approached, they managed to capture revealing images of the attached weaponry.
This revelation coincides with reports of the US fortifying its nuclear capabilities to counter perceived threats from Russia and China. In a recent missile test, Russia unveiled the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, boasting capabilities such as evading defense systems and an alleged unlimited range.
In a televised meeting with President Vladimir Putin, Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov disclosed the missile’s impressive 14,000km (8,700-mile) range during a multi-hour flight.
Notably, President Trump expressed intentions on Truth Social to align nuclear weapon testing with rival nations. However, Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified that the US does not plan critical nuclear explosions but rather non-critical tests.
Nations typically maintain secrecy around their nuclear stockpiles, with an estimated 5,459 warheads for Russia, 5,177 for the US, and around 600 for China, according to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).
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