Navy plans contract for Lockheed to put LRASM anti-ship missile on the B-52
A notice from Naval Air Systems Command points to the old bomber getting a missile built to hit moving ships.
Naval Air Systems Command plans to award Lockheed Martin a contract to integrate the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) onto the Air Force's B-52 bomber, Defence Industry Europe reported, citing an October 7 notice first reported by Air & Space Forces Magazine. Planned tasks include missile software updates, testing and failure review boards. Lockheed declined to give details.
LRASM is based on JASSM, a long-range air-launched missile, and the B-52 can already carry up to 20 of those. That similar size suggests a comparable load of ship-hunting missiles. The idea was first reported in 2019, then languished. In June, the Air Force disclosed a B-2 had used LRASM to sink a decommissioned ship in a Pacific exercise.
Why it matters
It would let long-range bombers, not just carrier jets, strike moving ships at sea, shifting part of the Navy's job to the Air Force.
What we don't know yet
- The contract's value and timeline were not reported.
- How many LRASMs a B-52 would actually carry has not been confirmed.
Note this down
Watch for the actual contract award and any statement from NAVAIR or the Air Force, which had not yet responded to questions.