Air Force Reveals B-2 Can Fire Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles
A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit fired a Long Range Anti-Ship Missile during Exercise Valiant Shield 26 on June 27-28, 2026, in a sinking exercise north of the Mariana Islands.[1]
The AGM-158C LRASM struck the decommissioned USS Juneau, which was sunk more than 200 nautical miles north of Guam after combined U.S. and Japanese strikes.[1] Pacific Air Forces publicly confirmed LRASM integration on the B-2, saying the change gives the U.S. a stealth bomber anti-ship capability to counter China's expanding navy.[1]
Valiant Shield 26 staged combined air, surface and subsurface strikes with allied units to sink the decommissioned ship north of the Marianas. Observers and defense analysts noted this appears to be the first public sighting of LRASM integrated on the B-2, marking an expansion of the bomber's maritime role.
The Air Force operates 20 B-2 Spirit bombers as of May 2026, and service social posts framed the LRASM shots as boosting Pacific reach and allied interoperability.
The mainstream summary highlights the B-2's capability to fire the AGM-158C LRASM but does not delve into the strategic implications of this development. While it frames the integration of the LRASM as a response to China's naval expansion, a deeper analysis reveals that this capability is part of a broader U.S. strategy to counter China's anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) efforts in the Indo-Pacific, which have significantly challenged U.S. naval dominance since the Cold War. This context is crucial, as it underscores the urgency behind enhancing the B-2's maritime role, which the summary downplays in favor of a more straightforward account of the exercise's outcome. Furthermore, the operational range of the LRASM, exceeding 200 nautical miles, suggests a significant leap in the B-2's ability to strike maritime targets deep within contested waters, a detail omitted from the mainstream coverage that could inform readers about the missile's strategic value in potential conflict scenarios.
Additionally, the mainstream summary does not address the collaborative nature of the exercise, which involved U.S. and Japanese forces working together to achieve a common objective. Social media insights emphasize that this joint operation reflects a commitment to enhancing interoperability among allies, a critical factor in addressing the evolving security landscape in the region. The omission of these perspectives may lead readers to overlook the significance of allied cooperation in U.S. military strategy against perceived threats in the Pacific.
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📊 Relevant Data
The U.S. Air Force operates 20 B-2 Spirit bombers (including one test aircraft) as of May 2026.
B-2 Spirit > Air Force > Fact Sheet Display — U.S. Air Force
The AGM-158C LRASM has an estimated operational range exceeding 200 nautical miles.
AGM-158C LRASM — Wikipedia / Lockheed Martin specifications
📌 Key Facts
- On June 27-28, 2026, a B-2 Spirit fired a Long Range Anti-Ship Missile during Exercise Valiant Shield 26 in a sinking exercise north of the Mariana Islands.
- The missile struck the decommissioned USS Juneau, which was ultimately sunk more than 200 nautical miles off Guam after combined U.S. and Japanese strikes.
- Pacific Air Forces publicly confirmed the B-2’s LRASM integration, giving the U.S. a stealth bomber anti-ship capability intended to counter China’s expanding navy.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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