Future nuclear cruise missile faces political headwinds.

• Author: Harper, Jon

The Pentagon's plan to acquire a new nuclear air-launched cruise missile could be in jeopardy due to budget constraints and political opposition.

In July, the Air Force released a request for proposals for the long-range standoff weapon, known as the LRSO. The service aims to replace the aging AGM-86B air-launched cruise missile inventory with about 1,000 next-generation missiles.

"The LRSO weapon system will be a cost-effective force multiplier for B-52, B-2 and B-21 aircraft to credibly deter adversaries and assure U.S. allies of our deterrent capabilities," the Air Force said in a statement when the RFP release was announced.

"Nuclear-capable bombers armed with standoff missiles provide the nuclear triad a clear, visible and tailorable deterrent effect, and deny geographic sanctuaries to any potential adversary," the service said.

The new weapon would also provide a "rapid and flexible hedge" against changes in the strategic environment, it said.

The RFP identified the contract requirements for the LRSO's technology maturation and risk reduction phase. The Air Force will conduct a source selection and award contracts to up to two prime contractors. The awards are expected in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017.

The winners "will execute a 54-month effort to complete a preliminary design with demonstrated reliability and manufacturability," the Air Force said. The service will subsequently carry out a competitive downselect to a single contractor.

The Pentagon's nuclear modernization plans--which also include acquiring new stealth bombers, land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles and ballistic missile submarines--are estimated to cost hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming decades. In this context, some observers have questioned the need to buy a new nuclear cruise missile.

In a July 20 letter to President Barack Obama, 10 Democratic U.S. senators implored the commander-in-chief to axe the LRSO program.

The cost of nuclear modernization programs will put pressure on the defense budget at a time when non-nuclear systems are also slated for expensive modernization efforts, the lawmakers noted in the letter.

"We urge you to scale back plans to construct unneeded new nuclear weapons and delivery systems," they said. "In particular, we urge you to cancel plans to spend at least $20 billion on a new nuclear air-launched cruise missile, the long-range standoff weapon, which would provide an unnecessary capability that could increase the risk of nuclear war."

Steven Pifer, director of the Arms Control Initiative at the Brookings Institution, said buying a new nuclear cruise missile "does not make sense" because the Pentagon is developing the B-21 Raider.

"The Air Force plans to use stealth...