The U.S. Air Force said a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber fired an AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) during a live-fire sinking exercise (Sinkex) north of the Mariana Islands over the Philippine Sea on June 27, as part of Exercise Valiant Shield 2026.
According to a press release from Pacific Air Forces, the missile struck a maritime target, marking the first publicly acknowledged use of the LRASM from the stealth bomber.
The @PACAF successfully conducted a live-fire Sinking Exercise using the B-2 Spirit north of the Mariana Islands. Deploying the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile – demonstrating enhanced ability to achieve strategic objectives within range of potential threats.https://t.co/8PPP7bT3Pb pic.twitter.com/t2c0XTjfeo
— Air Force Global Strike Command (@AFGlobalStrike) June 29, 2026
Images released through the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service show the target vessel was the decommissioned Austin-class amphibious transport dock USS Juneau (LPD 10).
🚢Joint forces just sent a piece of history to the bottom of the Pacific!
In Valiant Shield 2026, U.S. Navy, Air Force, and allied teams coordinated a live-fire sinking exercise — targeting the decommissioned USS Juneau with air, surface, and subsurface strikes, capped by a B-2… pic.twitter.com/3riZ4AcyDk
— AP (@AP_Honolulu) June 30, 2026
A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force submarine and the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) also participated in the exercise.
The Air Force said deploying the LRASM from the B-2 Spirit marks a major step forward in countering maritime threats.
“The B-2’s impressive performance underscores the U.S. military’s commitment to adaptability and flexibility in the face of emerging security challenges,” said General Kevin B. Schneider, Commander, Pacific Air Forces. “By prioritizing counter-maritime strike operations, we can maintain a decisive edge over adversaries, protect our national interests and ensure the free and open Pacific that underpin our global security.”
The AGM-158C LRASM is a stealthy anti-ship cruise missile derived from the AGM-158B JASSM-ER and developed by DARPA for the U.S. Air Force and Navy. Designed for contested environments, it uses GPS and onboard sensors with semi-autonomous targeting to locate and engage enemy ships while reducing reliance on external intelligence, surveillance, GPS, and communications.
The missile is already operational on the B-1B Lancer and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, while the latest LRASM 1.1 variant is also being integrated onto the P-8A Poseidon.
Exercise Valiant Shield 2026 is a large-scale U.S.-led military exercise in the Indo-Pacific that brings together U.S. forces and partner nations to rehearse complex, multi-domain combat operations. The exercise involves more than 200 aircraft and 20 surface ships conducting training across the region, from Guam to Japan.
