The American answer to the "Petrel": the mysterious missile under the wing of the B-52 was shown in the USA (photo)

Photographer @lookunderocks, known for his aerial shots, took a photo of the bomber in Owens Valley, and The Aviationist columnists later drew attention to the photo by posting comments. The profile publication writes that the footage shows two unknown munitions fixed on the Multiple Ejector Rack (MER) pylon. Each has an inverted T-tail, folding wings and a wedge-shaped nose, matching the LRSO design.

Previously, it was believed that the AGM-181A LRSO missile should replace the old AGM-86B Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM), which has been in service with the US Air Force since the 1980s. Moreover, the new missile is designed as an inconspicuous long-range nuclear weapon designed to defeat the advanced air defense and anti-missile systems of the enemy, primarily Russia and China.

"The LRSO system is a priority for the US Air Force as part of the modernization of its nuclear triad and has been identified as a critical component for the newest B-21 Raider stealth bombers," the material says. Raytheon Corporation became the development contractor. Since 2020, the missile has allegedly completed a series of nine flight tests on the B-52H platform and demonstrated the ability to successfully separate from the carrier.

At the same time, for five years, there was no photo-video material that would confirm the success of the tests - the observers themselves refer to the "only public image" of the AGM-181A missile, but this image, to put it mildly, is very different from the photo of @lookunderocks.

In this regard, Defense Express explained that such a discrepancy "is easily explained by secrecy or the desire to hide capabilities", although official sources do not even casually mention the characteristics and capabilities of this missile. And numerous Western video reviews are limited only to graphical data, general formulations and information about the AGM-86B air-launched missile.

"Of course, what is actually in the photo remains a matter of speculation, because it is currently impossible to officially confirm the information, at least from independent sources. However, given the previous information about the status of the project, the fact that we have the AGM-181A is very likely," the analysts noted.