US developing nuclear capable cruise missile
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The US Air Force has awarded two $900 million contracts to design the next nuclear-capable cruise missile, as part of the nuclear modernization push estimated at over $1 trillion.
Lockheed Martin and Raytheon were chosen to research and develop the new Long Range Stand-Off (LRSO) weapon, the Air Force announced Wednesday.
“This weapon will modernize the air-based leg of the nuclear triad,” Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said in a statement.
The two military industry conglomerates were given 54 months to “mature design concepts and prove developmental technologies” for the LRSO. At that point, the Air Force will pick one of them to proceed with the engineering, manufacturing and development phase, sometime in fiscal year 2022.
