20 LRASMs per B-52: US Upgrades Bombers Against China's Warships

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents 20 LRASMs per B-52: US Upgrades Bombers Against China's Warships.

A single B-52 is to carry up to 20 LRASM cruise missiles in the future — this is how the US Air Force plans to convert its legendary long-range bombers into anti-ship platforms. Focus reports, citing the corresponding plans. The goal of the upgrade: engage Chinese warships from a great distance without putting the aircraft within range of modern air defenses.

The B-52 — originally designed as a Cold War nuclear bomber — is being repurposed as a carrier of a precise, conventional anti-ship weapon. The LRASM (Long Range Anti-Ship Missile) is considered one of the most modern cruise missiles in the US arsenal: it is designed to autonomously identify ship targets and hit them even when communications and GPS are jammed.

For you, this means: the US is pushing the line of engagement in the Pacific further forward — away from its own shores, toward potential strike distances far off the Chinese mainland. If the plans are implemented, pressure on China's navy increases while the risk to US pilots decreases. What this means exactly for the security situation in Taiwan, in the South China Sea, and for US allies depends on the pace of implementation — and on how China responds.

What's behind the LRASM upgrade plan?

According to Focus, the US wants to equip its B-52 bombers with up to 20 LRASM missiles. This would allow the aircraft to attack distant warships in the future — particularly China's navy. The trick: the B-52 wouldn't have to fly into the immediate vicinity of the enemy fleet, but could launch the cruise missiles from a great distance.

Why the B-52 of all aircraft?

The B-52 isn't a new jet — it's been flying since the 1950s. But that's exactly what makes it interesting for this job: it has enormous weight capacity and plenty of space in the internal weapons bay and on external stations, can cover huge distances, and is comparatively cheap to maintain. If you're looking for a bomber that carries many heavy weapons over long distances, you quickly land with the B-52.

What does the upgrade mean for China?

If the US can actually carry up to 20 LRASMs per B-52, the firepower per sortie multiplies. A single bomber could then threaten an entire task force or multiple ships at once. China would have to recalibrate its air defenses and maritime surveillance — an expensive and complex task. At the same time, Washington is sending a signal to allies like Japan, Australia, and the Philippines: the US is continuing to invest in conventional deterrence in the Pacific.

What remains open

When exactly the upgraded B-52s are to be ready for service, how many aircraft are affected, and how the plans fit into the US Air Force's overall concept in the Indo-Pacific is not clear from the available report. The source also provides no details on the LRASM's specific range or the timeline of the conversion.