The US Air Force's B-52 bomber fleet is facing readiness issues, which are creating challenges for the testing of the new AGM-181A Long-Range Standoff nuclear-armed cruise missile. The B-52 is the only platform involved in this effort, and its high demand, combined with a recent tragic loss, has resulted in a 4-month delay to the missile's initial capability.
The Air Force is aiming to reach initial operational capability with the AGM-181 in November 2030. The Government Accountability Office has reported that there have been nine LRSO test flights since October 2024, with six of those flights occurring last year.
The B-52 fleet's low availability and heavy operational demands are contributing to the testing delays. The Air Force currently has 75 B-52H bombers in service, with a mission-capable rate hovering between 50 and 55 percent in recent years.
