Last week, the US Air Force awarded Raytheon with a $2 billion contract to develop a new air-launched nuclear cruise missile as part of Washington’s plan to modernize its massive nuclear arsenal.
The missiles, known as the Long-Range Stand-Off (LRSO) weapon, would replace a 1980s era air-launched cruise missile. The LRSOs would be used on long-range bombers, like B-52s and B-1s.
Raytheon, the former employer of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, is expected to be finished developing the LRSOs in 2027. The project is just one small part of the nuclear modernization, a plan that calls for replacing equipment in all legs of the nuclear triad.
The plan to modernize the US’s entire nuclear arsenal is expected to cost taxpayers about $1.2 trillion over the next 30 years. Unfortunately, there are no serious conversations in Washington about dismantling the arsenal or even reducing the number of nuclear warheads.
The cost overruns will be another 7 or 8 billion and it will be several years behind schedule before becoming operational.
I think you are underestimating the cost overrun. By orders of magnitude. The F-35 comes to mind.
Why is all this literally going backwards? Sleazy bs just to make a $.? Wrap it in a flag and off for profit. B-52’s? The old musical group by that name? Old,old dudes are behind this craziness. Its like Foch dragged out to look forward by going backwards. What a nasty loop…
Because we are a backwards country. I am almost 80. This is something my grand kids and great-grand kids will have to deal with. Hopefully they will not have to deal with a scorched earth.
i’m 63, so i got to live the american dream get destroyed by corporate greed. My dad in 63 had 10x the purchasing power i have with 1/10 the $. My dad was right, america’s problem is one thing; short term profit and gain over long term views. Or cash in today and make the kids pay for our today with their tomorrow…Disgusting
So far as I’m concerned, this is the best explanation. Biden appears to be willing to spend unlimited money on the Military-Industrial Complex. The LRSO project described here isn’t even close to being the worst one.
Updating America’s Land-Based Ballistic Missile ‘Nuclear Sponge’ Is A $100B+ Waste
Very socially woke expenditure. That is why Lloyd Austin was selected for his job.
Waste of money. Since nuclear warheads a can be as small as suitcases, no telling where they are hidden in case of emergencies. Mutually assured destruction is guaranteed…
I just had another thought. Does this development fall into line with the “surgical” nuke strikes in the field of combat?
A little nuke here, a little nuke there………………….