AGM-86 Air Lauched Cruise Missile (ALCM)

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A staple of the Air Force's long-range strike portfolio has come to the end of the road. The AGM-86C/D Conventional Air-Launched Cruise Missile (CALCM), the non-nuclear sibling of the AGB-86B that remains in service as the backbone of the B-52's nuclear strike mission, is being put rest after decades of service. The last download of these missiles from a B-52H occurred at Barksdale AFB on November 20th, 2019, marking the final end to the weapon's service.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zo...-gps-guided-weaponry-is-bowing-out-of-service
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I think the total remaining inventory is 100 or less anyway, compared to 5000+ AGM-158 A/B.
 
The LRASM production is rather miniscule. USAF's total buy is only 400 ish, and I think only around 10% of that has been delivered. That said I think I mistook the number the USAF planned to purchase vs total current inventory. But the USAF still has well over two thousand units of A/B versions, and production of the A has ceased in favor of the B, with something like 2000+ 158As and a planned inventory of ~3000 B's, plus LRASMs. Additionally there is apparently a 'D' version entering production soon that has improvements to the shape and wings to extend range, and possibly an 'XL' version will purchased as well.
 
Northrop Grumman System Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah, has been awarded a $135,000,000 contract for remanufacturing efforts in support of the air launch cruise missile inertial navigation element. Work encompasses the disassembly, cleaning, inspection, maintenance, re-assembly, testing and finishing actions as required to return the end item to a like-new condition. Work will be predominantly performed in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is expected to be completed Sept. 3, 2034.

https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2334842/
 
Slightly OT, is the LRSO requirements public in anyway? Broadly speaking about all I can tell about the AGM-86B replacement is that it is thought to have a longer range and an updated W80 (mod 4).
 
Josh_TN said:
Slightly OT, is the LRSO requirements public in anyway? Broadly speaking about all I can tell about the AGM-86B replacement is that it is thought to have a longer range and an updated W80 (mod 4).
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Probably coated in the same stuff as the B-21.
 

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NMaude said:
when I first read that I thought you'd bought an actual AGM-86;):D.
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While I'm all in favor of arming yourself as you see fit, that's a bit out of my price range. And being a subject of the State of Illinois, I doubt they'd let me have one. And even if they did... I'd have to register the damn thing, then the first time some jackhole invades a town under a paraglider they'd use that registration to come and confiscate it.

Although the idea of modifying one with retractable gear and a prone-pilot cockpit to turn it into a daily flyer seems appealing for some reason. I bet the AOA on landing is sporty.
 
Orionblamblam said:
While I'm all in favor of arming yourself as you see fit, that's a bit out of my price range. And being a subject of the State of Illinois, I doubt they'd let me have one. And even if they did... I'd have to register the damn thing, then the first time some jackhole invades a town under a paraglider they'd use that registration to come and confiscate it.

Although the idea of modifying one with retractable gear and a prone-pilot cockpit to turn it into a daily flyer seems appealing for some reason. I bet the AOA on landing is sporty.
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You know, you can fix that problem, right?
 
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Forest Green said:
Question on AGM-86. Missile threat states a 3,000lb warhead, but the whole thing only weighed <4,000lb???

https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/alcm/
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Warhead is W80, probably like 500 lbs or less. An entire B-61-7 is like 750 lbs. conventional conversions of the ALCM had ~1000lb warheads and reduced range compared to the strategic version.

EDIT: the entire weapon is 3000# class, not the warhead. The JASSM is 2000# class with a 1000# class warhead.
 
Scott Kenny said:
I was not expecting that much to be big cast chunks.
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I never really thought about it but if you'd asked me how the AGM-86's fuselage was constructed before I read this thread I would've said it was a riveted semi-monocoque structure aka "Stressed Skin".
 
NMaude said:
I never really thought about it but if you'd asked me how the AGM-86's fuselage was constructed before I read this thread I would've said it was a riveted semi-monocoque structure aka "Stressed Skin".
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That's exactly what I was expecting. Stressed skin with a couple big longerons to carry the warhead and mount on the pylons.
 
Yep, the warhead access panel is at the belly ..... I still remember one of the James Bond movie that showed the swopping of the warhead on an AGM-86 with the access panel from the top!
 
zjz said:
I still remember one of the James Bond movie that showed the swopping of the warhead on an AGM-86 with the access panel from the top!
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That was from "Never Say Never", the very last time Sean Connery played James Bond (And the Bond-girl was played by 28 year-old Kim Basinger). Aside from the incorrect position the dummy W80 itself was very accurate IIRC.
 
Defense Updates has put out a video about new upgrades to the AGM-86B to maintain its' operability:


The U.S. Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center has awarded Boeing a $49.5 million sole-source contract to modernize key electronic components supporting the AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM), ensuring the continued operational readiness of one of the United States' cornerstone airborne nuclear deterrent weapons. Announced on June 30, the agreement covers the remanufacture of the missile's electronic flight controllers as well as the production of specialized test equipment required to certify the upgraded units.​
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Although the overall program spans seven years, the Air Force has initially obligated nearly $3 million from its fiscal year 2026 missile procurement budget to begin the effort. Because Boeing designed and manufactures the AGM-86B, the work was awarded without competition, with the company recognized as the only source capable of performing the required engineering and sustainment activities.The modernization effort will be carried out at Boeing facilities in Heath, Ohio, and Fort Walton Beach, Florida.​
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In this video, Defense Updates analyzes why 4 decade old AGM-86B will continue as air launched leg of US nuclear triad till 2033?
#defenseupdates #agm86B #b52bomber

Chapters:
0:00 TITLE
00:11 INTRODUCTION
01:31 SPONSORSHIP - NordVPN
02:05 LRASM
04:56 B-2 SPIRIT AS THE LAUNCH PLATFORM
07:01 ANALYSIS
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