US President Donald Trump’s confidential nuclear missile has been photographed for the first time. Aviation photographer Ian Recchio captured images of a US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress carrying a mysterious weapon under its wing in California’s Owen Valley. Experts suggest the weapon could be the AGM-181 Long Range Stand Off Weapon (LRSO), as reported by The Aviationist.
The AGM-181 LRSO, described as the Air Force’s next-gen stealth nuclear cruise missile, is set to equip both the B-52 and the newly developed B-21 stealth bomber. The appearance of the warhead on the aircraft closely resembles the public depiction of the AGM-181 LRSO released earlier. The B-52 exhibited typical orange markings for test flights, yet the specific missile could not be definitively confirmed, despite the B-52’s long-standing status as America’s strategic long-range bomber.
The AGM‑181 LRSO, presently undergoing trials, is anticipated to house the W80‑4 warhead, with a yield range of 5 to 150 kilotons, offering significantly more power than the Hiroshima bomb in 1945. This missile, aiming for operational readiness by 2030, is designed to replace the AGM‑86 ALCM, a subsonic air-launched cruise missile from the Cold War era.
Recchio, recounting the spotting experience to The Aviationist, mentioned observing the aircraft with the weapon while plane spotting in Owens Valley. The sighting coincides with reports of the US bolstering its nuclear capabilities in response to rising threats from Russia and China. In October, Russia conducted a test of its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, claiming extended range capabilities and evasion of missile defenses.
Recently, Trump conveyed on Truth Social his directive to defense officials to conduct nuclear weapon tests on par with rival nations. Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified that the US is not planning nuclear detonations but may conduct non-critical tests. Nuclear stockpiles are typically kept confidential, with estimates indicating Russia at around 5,459 warheads, the US at 5,177, and China at approximately 600.