The United States Air Force has significantly expanded the combat role of its iconic B-2 Spirit stealth bomber by integrating the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), a move that could dramatically strengthen America’s ability to counter hostile naval forces in the Indo-Pacific region.
In a major milestone announced by Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) on June 29, 2026, a B-2 Spirit bomber successfully launched an AGM-158C LRASM during a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX) conducted as part of Exercise Valiant Shield. The event marked the first publicly disclosed instance of the stealth bomber firing the advanced anti-ship missile and highlighted a new dimension in the aircraft’s operational capabilities.
The development represents a significant enhancement of the US military’s long-range maritime strike arsenal and is widely viewed as a strategic response to growing naval challenges posed by China in the Western Pacific.
“With the deployment of the LRASM from the B-2 Spirit, the Pacific Air Forces takes a major step forward in countering maritime threats,” PACAF stated. “This milestone showcased impressive high-end innovation, reinforcing the US military’s commitment to safeguarding national interests and maintaining global security.”
Although the Air Force did not provide detailed information about the target vessel involved in the exercise or disclose timelines for broader operational integration, the announcement confirmed for the first time that the B-2 is now capable of employing one of the world’s most sophisticated anti-ship weapons.
For decades, the B-2 Spirit has been synonymous with strategic bombing missions against heavily defended land targets. Designed during the Cold War and renowned for its distinctive flying-wing configuration, the stealth bomber can penetrate advanced air defense systems and deliver precision strikes deep inside hostile territory.
The aircraft recently demonstrated that capability during high-profile combat operations in the Middle East. In June 2025, B-2 bombers participated in Operation Midnight Hammer, employing GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs against Iranian nuclear facilities. Earlier in 2026, the aircraft was also used during Operation Epic Fury, targeting military assets in Iran.
However, the latest LRASM integration indicates that the Air Force increasingly views the B-2 as more than a strategic land-attack platform. Instead, the aircraft is being transformed into a versatile long-range strike asset capable of threatening enemy naval forces far from American shores.
The shift is particularly relevant in the Indo-Pacific, where maritime power plays a central role in military competition. As China continues to expand its naval presence and deploy aircraft carriers into the Western Pacific, Washington is investing heavily in systems capable of holding those assets at risk.
General Kevin B. Schneider, Commander of Pacific Air Forces, emphasized the strategic importance of the development.
“The B-2’s impressive performance underscores the US military’s commitment to adaptability and flexibility in the face of emerging security challenges,” Schneider said. “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 underpins our global security.”
The AGM-158C LRASM has already become a key anti-ship weapon within the US military, but until now, publicly acknowledged launch platforms were limited.
The missile is operational on the B-1B Lancer bomber and the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Efforts are also underway to integrate the weapon onto additional aircraft, including the F-35 Lightning II, F-16 Viper, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-15EX Eagle II, P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, and eventually the B-52 Stratofortress.
The addition of the B-2 introduces a unique capability. Unlike most other launch platforms, the stealth bomber can approach contested areas with a much lower probability of detection. Combined with the missile’s own stealth characteristics, the pairing creates what many analysts describe as a “stealth-on-stealth” strike capability.
This combination could prove especially valuable in future conflicts involving advanced military powers equipped with sophisticated air-defense and electronic warfare systems.
The LRASM launch follows earlier efforts by the Air Force to expand the B-2’s maritime strike mission.
During the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in 2024, a B-2 successfully employed the QUICKSINK weapon to destroy the decommissioned amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa. QUICKSINK is a low-cost precision-guided capability designed to rapidly convert conventional bombs into effective ship-killing weapons.
That test attracted considerable attention because of its relevance to potential future operations in the Pacific. Military planners have long sought affordable methods to target enemy surface fleets, particularly in scenarios involving China.
The successful integration of LRASM represents a substantial step beyond QUICKSINK. While the earlier weapon offered a cost-effective anti-ship solution, LRASM provides significantly greater range, survivability, autonomy, and lethality.
As a result, the B-2 now possesses a much more capable maritime strike option that can engage targets without requiring the aircraft to approach heavily defended naval formations.
Developed by Lockheed Martin, the AGM-158C LRASM is derived from the combat-proven Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) family.
According to the manufacturer, LRASM is “a precision-guided intelligent anti-ship missile devised to interdict a variety of surface threats at very long range, navigating semi-autonomously to the target, and delivering a precise payload from safe, standoff range.”
The missile was developed to address shortcomings associated with older anti-ship weapons such as the Harpoon missile, which many defense experts consider increasingly vulnerable in modern contested environments.
One of LRASM’s most important advantages is its range. The missile can travel more than 200 nautical miles, or approximately 370 kilometers, before striking its target. This allows launch aircraft to remain far from enemy defenses while still holding hostile vessels at risk.
Beyond surface warships, the missile can reportedly engage a variety of targets, including aircraft, drones, land-based objectives, and even submarines operating in shallow waters.
Its versatility makes it a valuable asset in complex maritime environments where multiple threats may be present simultaneously.
A defining characteristic of LRASM is its sophisticated guidance and targeting architecture.
The missile initially navigates toward a designated target area using a GPS-assisted Inertial Navigation System. However, unlike many traditional precision-guided munitions, LRASM was specifically designed to operate in environments where GPS signals may be degraded or denied.
Once en route, the missile can rely on an onboard electronic support measures package and advanced route-planning capabilities to continue its mission. This significantly reduces dependence on external intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, or communications networks.
The weapon’s ability to function with limited external support is particularly important in modern warfare, where adversaries are expected to aggressively jam communications and disrupt satellite navigation systems.
During the terminal phase of flight, LRASM employs a passive infrared imaging sensor to identify and strike targets. Because the sensor operates passively, it is difficult to detect and is largely resistant to traditional electronic jamming techniques.
The missile can also analyze radio-frequency emissions from hostile systems, adjusting its trajectory as necessary and using those emissions to improve target identification.
These capabilities enable LRASM to autonomously locate, classify, and engage targets even in heavily contested electronic warfare environments.
Another major advantage of LRASM is its low-observable design.
Like the B-2 bomber itself, the missile incorporates stealth characteristics intended to reduce detection by enemy radar systems. This makes interception significantly more difficult and increases the likelihood that the weapon will successfully reach its intended target.
When paired with the B-2, the result is a layered stealth approach. The bomber can penetrate or approach contested regions while minimizing its exposure to enemy sensors, and the missile can continue the mission while remaining difficult to detect.
This combination complicates defensive planning for potential adversaries.
Instead of confronting a visible strike package supported by tankers, escorts, and electronic warfare aircraft, defenders may face a stealth platform capable of launching multiple low-observable missiles from long distances.
Such an attack profile significantly compresses reaction times and increases uncertainty for naval commanders attempting to protect high-value assets.
The B-2’s existing compatibility with the JASSM family suggests it could carry a substantial number of LRASMs.
The stealth bomber is capable of carrying up to 16 AGM-158A JASSM missiles. Since LRASM is derived from the same missile family and maintains a similar form factor, analysts believe the B-2 could potentially carry an equivalent load of anti-ship missiles.
If operationally configured in this manner, a single bomber could unleash a large coordinated salvo against a naval task force.
Each LRASM carries a 450-kilogram high-explosive blast-fragmentation penetrator warhead designed to inflict severe damage on large surface combatants.
The missile also possesses a datalink that allows it to receive threat updates while in flight. Furthermore, multiple LRASMs can cooperate during coordinated attacks, sharing information and optimizing target engagement strategies.
Such swarm-like behavior can overwhelm defensive systems and improve overall mission effectiveness.
The strategic significance of the B-2/LRASM combination becomes particularly apparent when viewed through the lens of a potential conflict involving Taiwan.
China has spent decades developing an extensive anti-access/area denial network intended to limit the ability of US and allied forces to operate near its coastline.
This network includes advanced surface-to-air missile systems, anti-ship ballistic missiles, long-range radars, electronic warfare assets, fighter aircraft, submarines, and an expanding fleet of modern warships.
Collectively, these capabilities are designed to make military intervention by outside powers more difficult.
The First Island Chain, stretching from Japan through Taiwan and the Philippines, occupies a central place in Chinese military planning. Beijing has steadily increased its military presence within this region and frequently deploys naval forces, including aircraft carriers, into surrounding waters.
In a conflict scenario, Chinese naval formations could play a critical role in enforcing blockades, projecting power, and supporting military operations.
The ability to strike those formations from long distances therefore carries considerable strategic value.
Military simulations and war games have repeatedly highlighted the importance of long-range anti-ship weapons in a Western Pacific conflict.
Analysts have argued that standoff attacks against naval forces represent one of the most effective methods for slowing or disrupting an invasion force before it reaches its objectives.
The B-2 and LRASM combination appears tailored for precisely this type of mission.
A stealth bomber operating from distant bases could approach contested regions, launch multiple anti-ship missiles, and withdraw without entering the most heavily defended areas.
Meanwhile, the missiles themselves could navigate independently toward targets while resisting detection and electronic interference.
This approach leverages traditional American strengths in stealth technology, precision strike, and long-range power projection.
It also provides a means of offsetting some of China’s geographic advantages near its home territory.
While Beijing benefits from operating close to its own bases and support infrastructure, the United States can exploit advanced technologies that complicate Chinese planning and increase the risks faced by naval forces operating in contested waters.
The successful firing of an AGM-158C LRASM by a B-2 Spirit bomber marks a notable evolution in the aircraft’s mission set and reflects broader changes in US military strategy.
No longer limited primarily to strategic bombing missions against land targets, the B-2 is increasingly becoming a versatile platform capable of conducting sophisticated maritime strike operations against some of the most heavily defended targets in the world.
By combining a stealth bomber with a stealth anti-ship missile, the United States has introduced a powerful capability designed to challenge advanced naval forces and preserve operational freedom in contested regions.
As tensions continue to shape the security environment in the Indo-Pacific, the B-2’s new maritime strike role is likely to become an increasingly important element of American deterrence and warfighting plans.
For Washington, the integration of LRASM onto the B-2 is more than a technical achievement. It represents a strategic investment in maintaining an edge against near-peer competitors and ensuring that hostile fleets remain vulnerable even in the most challenging operational environments.
