The U.S. Air Force revealed for the first time that the B-2A Spirit stealth bomber can employ the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, after the weapon was featured in a recent Sinking Exercise.
The U.S. Air Force’s Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) command announced that the B-2A Spirit recently took part in a live-fire Sinking Exercise (SINKEX). What distinguishes this SINKEX from past ones which already saw the B-2’s involvement is the employment of the new AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), whose integration on the stealth bomber was not previously disclosed.
The bomber was already cleared to carry the similar AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), thus making the integration quicker. As we previously explained here at The Aviationist, both weapons share the same baseline airframe, with the differences being mainly internal.
The SINKEX
The SINKEX was part of the ongoing Exercise Valiant Shield 2026 in the Philippine Sea, with the specific event taking place on June 27, 2026, in the Mariana Island Range Complex. The weapon struck a maritime vessel, which was not identified by neither the press release nor the captions accompanying the images.
However, images released on the DVIDS network show that the vessel involved was the decommissioned Austin-class amphibious transport dock USS Juneau (LPD 10). The caption, in line with the B-2’s ones, mention that the SINKEX was conducted more than 200 nautical miles off the coast in the Mariana Islands Range Complex on June 27.
A Japan Maritime Self- Defense Force submarine and the USS George Washington (CVN 73) aircraft carrier were also involved in the exercise. Photos captured before the a Japanese torpedo was fired show that the USS Juneau was already struck by at least three weapons, one of which could have been the LRASM fired by the B-2.
The B-2’s Involvement
This is not the first time a B-2A Spirit participates in a SINKEX. For instance, the bomber took part in the sinking of the decommissioned Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA-1), engaging it with a 2,000 pound QUICKSINK weapon during RIMPAC 2024.
QUICKSINK is a variant of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) modified for maritime strike, which features a dedicated seeker for this role. The weapon was described as “a new low-cost, air-delivered capability for defeating maritime threats.”
In recent years, QUICKSINK was the main weapon employed by the stealth bomber in the maritime strike role. The addition of the AGM-158C LRASM gives the B-2 Spirit the ability to reach maritime targets farther away and in heavily defended areas.
The photos shows that the B-2 was loaded with a live LRASM at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, June 22, in preparation for the exercise. The bomber later deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, from where it took off for the SINKEX on June 27.
“The B-2’s impressive performance underscores the US military’s commitment to adaptability and flexibility in the face of emerging security challenges,” said General Kevin B. Schneider, Commander, Pacific Air Forces. “By prioritizing counter-maritime strike operations, we can maintain a decisive edge over adversaries, protect our national interests and ensure the free and open Pacific that underpin our global security.”
PACAF describes the deployment of the LRASM from the B-2 Spirit as a major step forward in countering maritime threats. In the captions, the command further said that this demonstrates “flexibility across the globe and hold maritime vessels at risk.”
The AGM-158C LRASM
The AGM-158C LRASM, based on the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range (JASSM-ER), is the new low-observable anti-ship cruise missile developed by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. NAVAIR describes the weapon as a defined near-term solution for the Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (OASuW) air-launch capability gap that will provide flexible, long-range, advanced, anti-surface capability against high-threat maritime targets.
NAVAIR says the weapon reduces dependency on Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, network links, and GPS navigation in electronic warfare environments. In fact, once launched, LRASM guides to an initial point using a GPS guidance system and employs onboard sensors to locate, identify, and provide terminal guidance to the target. Semi-autonomous guidance algorithms will allow it to use less-precise target cueing data to pinpoint specific targets in the contested domain.
There are currently three variants which comprise the OASuW Increment 1 program, designated LRASM 1.0, LRASM 1.1, and LRASM C-3. The LRASM 1.0 variant, which was fielded with early operational capability in 2019, has already been integrated on the B-1B Lancer and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
The newer LRASM 1.1 variant was fielded in 2023 and is undergoing Initial Operational Test & Evaluation, according to the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation’s report. The weapon is also being integrated on the P-8A Poseidon.
As for the future LRASM C-3, which adds extended range capability, the program planned a land strike capability was part of the LRASM C-3 upgrade but has since decided to remain focused on surface warfare capabilities. The missile concept of operations and system requirements were completed last year, focusing on anti-surface warfare employment range and updating the missile target threat library compared to LRASM 1.1.
The Navy has scheduled LRASM C-3 early operational capability (EOC) for 4QFY26. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense continues to plan for OASuW Increment 2 to be developed via full and open competition, with EOC anticipated in FY29 and initial operational capability anticipated in FY31. The Navy funded LRASM C-3 to bridge the gap until an OASuW Increment 2 program of record is established.
