Earlier this week, the US Air Force officially released its first rendering of a deadly nuclear missile that has the capability to decimate areas larger than ever before.
The city-destroying warhead has been developed for years in secret but it has now been revealed to the public for the first time.
On Monday, 9 June, the US announced that the AGM-181A Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) would be part of the nation's arsenal by the end of the decade, with the sleek-looking weapon packing a punch unlike anything we've seen in the past.
It is being prepared to replace the AGM-86B, a warhead which was introduced in the Cold War-era, and it will be carried by upgraded B-52 bombers, as well as the B-21 Raider, with the upcoming fighter jets setting the US military back £585m.
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The move comes following continuous talk from President Donald Trump about World War 3, and how it is the biggest threat facing the country.
The LRSO is said to have a range of over 1,500 miles, while it is thought that the missile may have an adjustable nuclear yield between five and 150 kilotons.
It could be utilised then, to execute tactics, or simply to wipe cities off the face of the Earth.
For context, a yield of 150 kilotons is ten times more powerful than bomb 'Little Boy', which was dropped on Hiroshima in August 1945, during WWII.
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Air Force officials announced that the nuclear warhead had gone through several successful flight tests, with 2030 touted as the year where we can expect the bomb to be on the US' frontline.
It's the latest move from the nation to strengthen and modernise the nuclear triad, as it's believed that the warhead will be able to travel at subsonic speeds.
The Air Force’s former Service Acquisition Executive, Andrew Hunter, told the Senate Committee on Armed Services that they are on track for its targeted release.
“It is tracking well, the program is definitely on track to meet its timeline and deliver to the warfighter any day and we’re also doing well on cost for that program as well,” he stated.
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The rendering of the weapon is the first public visualisation, though the bomb in its entirety - with full accuracy and details - remains classified.
With a distinct trapezoidal body and wedge-shaped nose and tail sections, it was noted that the air inlet feature wasn't visible on the rendering.
The warhead will be used as a long-range weapon that can unleash nuclear effects on targets, while boasting the features to penetrate and survive advanced Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS) from far distances.
It was reported by Defence Industry Europe that nine successful major test flights were carried out, which showcased the warhead's revolutionary capabilities - and its compatibility with the B-52H.
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Army
Joshua Nair