The “Air Force Long Range Weapon” does not actually exist yet, but once it does, it will function as a multi-purpose air-to-air and air-to-ground missile.

The US Air Force is looking for a new stand-off missile that can strike targets more than 1,100 miles away.

As part of an ongoing modernization process of its arsenal, the Air Force has sent out a notice to the industry regarding the new weapon system, the details of which remain hidden. 

What We (Don’t) Know About the Air Force’s Secret Missile Project  

In August, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Armament Directorate has announced that it will host a two-day classified industry event for partners across the defense and aerospace sectors to provide information and requirements to interested parties with regard to the new munition.

Provisionally named the “Air Force Long Range Weapon (AFLRW),” the new munition is set to have both air-to-air and air-to-surface variants. In other words, a fighter jet carrying the AFLRW will be able to use the same missile to both shoot down enemy aircraft and strike high-value targets on the ground without needing to return to base and change loadout. This versatility could be a major advantage in future combat operations.

Despite the munition’s multipurpose design, its initial focus would be in anti-air operations—shooting down adversary aircraft, missiles, and unmanned aerial systems, all of which have become staples of the air wars over Ukraine and Iran. According to the notice, the goal behind the new munition is to address the next generation of Air-Launched Standoff Weapon variants in line with the priorities of the Department of Defense. 

The Air Force has remained relatively tight-lipped on other details, and presumably will reveal more to attendees at the closed-door session in August. However, the public notice states that both the air-to-air and air-to-surface versions of the weapon system will need to have a minimum range of 1,000 nautical miles (1,150 miles, 1,850 kilometers). It also stresses the need for the projectile to strike air and surface targets in “Defense Planning Scenario 2.1 and 7.1 environments,” two classified Pentagon wargame planning scenarios.

For obvious reasons, the Air Force notice did not provide additional information on what those two scenarios entail. As a result, it is not clear to the public what other exact capabilities the AFLRW ought to meet.

How the Air Force Is Trying to Modernize Its Arsenal  

The Air Force’s notice is part of a wider effort to modernize the service’s arsenal to prepare for future conflicts against near-peer and other adversaries. This modernization effort is particularly focused on advanced precision strike and stand-off munitions, which were seriously depleted during “Operation Epic Fury,” the active phase of the recent Iran conflict. Many missiles in the US arsenal take many months to build, and stockpiles can be exhausted in days that take years to replenish. Though this problem was identified well in advance of the events in Iran, Epic Fury underscored it, and the campaign has led to a flurry of activity within the Department of Defense.

Stand-off weapons are useful for modern air forces because they enable an aircraft to fire the weapon from an extremely far distance, well outside the range of enemy air defenses. This helps to minimize the risk of losing a valuable aircraft and its far more valuable pilot. It also ensures a certain level of surprise, as the radar footprint of a missile is smaller than that of a fighter jet or bomber.

A third benefit of stand-off munitions is that they can turn aircraft that would otherwise be obsolete or high-risk into useful launch platforms. For example, variants of the C-130 Hercules, a transport aircraft hardly suited to air combat, could become relevant in a potential war against China in the Indo-Pacific by acting as launching platforms for stand-off munitions. The long range of the weapon systems means that the cumbersome and slow-flying transport aircraft do not have to come close to Chinese anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) systems.  

Whether the Air Force Long Range Weapon becomes a reality remains to be seen. But the Air Force is moving in the right direction with regard to the arsenal of the future.  

About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou  

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University, an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a JD from Boston College Law School. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

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