Why America Needs the Long Range Standoff Weapon

<p>America has embarked on a long-overdue effort to modernize its nuclear deterrent, most of which is decades old&nbsp;and&nbsp;becoming obsolete.&nbsp;A&nbsp;critical part&nbsp;of&nbsp;this effort is the&nbsp;Air Force’s&nbsp;development&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Long Range Standoff weapon (LRSO), a&nbsp;new generation of&nbsp;the current nuclear-armed air-launched cruise missile (ALCM), which is&nbsp;quickly aging out.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br><p>As argued in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/fielding-the-long-range-standoff-weapon-prevents-dangerous-gap-the-us-nuclear" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">newly-released Heritage Foundation report</a>, the LRSO will be critical to&nbsp;maintaining&nbsp;the air leg of the nuclear triad, enabling&nbsp;bombers to&nbsp;hold at risk&nbsp;well-defended targets for decades to come. Yet as with any major nuclear acquisition program, the LRSO faces&nbsp;roadblocks, including decreasing&nbsp;defense budgets, acquisition challenges, and strident anti-nuclear opposition.</p><br><p>To&nbsp;make LRSO a reality, we should&nbsp;be prepared to&nbsp;answer tough questions. Do&nbsp;bombers&nbsp;really need&nbsp;cruise&nbsp;missiles?&nbsp;What&nbsp;capabilities&nbsp;will LRSO provide? How will&nbsp;this weapon&nbsp;impact strategic stability?&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br><p>Join us as our&nbsp;expert&nbsp;panel takes on&nbsp;these questions&nbsp;and more.&nbsp;</p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>