Long Range Standoff Weapon

The Long Range Standoff Weapon (LRSO) under the Air Force's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation budget activity, aims to develop a long-range survivable stand-off weapon capable of delivering lethal nuclear effects on strategic targets. The program's specific objectives include replacing the currently fielded Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) and integrating the LRSO on both legacy and future bomber aircraft. It is designed to penetrate and survive advanced Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS) from significant stand-off range to prosecute strategic targets in support of the Air Force's global attack capability and strategic deterrence core function. Additionally, the program aims to address emerging or short-notice Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortage (DMSMS) and supply chain issues, while also conducting Development, Verification, and Test activities for design maturation, reliability growth, and manufacturing maturation to support the Critical Design Review.

The Long Range Standoff Weapon program also includes specific plans for FY2023 and FY2024. In FY2023, the program intends to continue designing, developing, integrating, and testing the LRSO weapon system through the Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract. This includes conducting system-level Critical Design Review, initiating B-52 flight envelope testing, conducting Control Test Vehicle flight testing, and planning for Production Readiness Reviews prior to the build of Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOT&E) units. In FY2024, the program plans to complete B-52 flight envelope testing and begin Development Test and Evaluation program execution. This involves continuing reliability growth activities, systems engineering activities focusing on design for reliability and design for manufacturing, test activities such as continued envelope testing and weapon system flight tests, planning for Production Readiness Reviews prior to IOT&E unit build, as well as planning and development of logistics support systems.

Overall, the Long Range Standoff Weapon program aims to achieve its objectives by conducting a range of activities including design maturation, reliability growth, manufacturing maturation, test support activities for ground and flight test activities, facility and security infrastructure upgrades to enable secure connectivity and communication between Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Energy (DOE), industry collaboration with National Nuclear Security Administration for seamless integration of DOE warhead assets into the cruise missile. These efforts are aimed at ensuring that the LRSO weapon system operates effectively in intended environments while meeting nuclear surety, cyber security, and nuclear safety requirements.