AGM - 86 ALCM The AGM - 86 ALCM ( AGM - 86A , AGM - 86B , AGM - 86C CALCM , AGM - 86D CALCM ) is an American subsonic air - launched cruise missile ( ALCM ) built by Boeing and operated by the United States Air Force . The missiles were developed to increase the effectiveness and survivability of Boeing B - 52H Stratofortress bomber s . In combination , they dilute an enemy ' s forces and complicate defense of its territory . Examples of the Boeing AGM - 86A and AGM - 86B are on display at the Steven F . Udvar - Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum near Washington D . C . Design . All variants of the AGM - 86 missile are powered by a Williams F107 turbofan jet engine that propels it at sustained subsonic speeds and can be launched from aircraft at both high and low altitudes . The missile deploys its folded wings , tail surfaces and engine inlet after launch . AGM - 86B / C / D missiles increase flexibility in target selection . AGM - 86B missiles can be air - launched in large numbers by the bomber force . B - 52H bombers carry six AGM - 86B or AGM - 86C missiles on each of two externally mounted pylons and eight internally on a rotary launcher , giving the B - 52H a maximum capacity of 20 missiles per aircraft . An enemy force would have to counterattack each of the missiles , making defense against them costly and complicated . The enemy ' s defenses are further hampered by the missiles ' small size and low - altitude flight capability , which makes them difficult to detect on radar . AGM - 86B . The nuclear armed AGM - 86B uses a terrain contour - matching guidance system ( TERCOM ) to fly to its assigned target . AGM - 86C / D . The AGM - 86C / D CALCM differs from the AGM - 86B air - launched cruise missile in that it carries a conventional blast / fragmentation payload rather than a nuclear payload . The AGM - 86C / D uses an onboard Global Positioning System ( GPS ) coupled with its inertial navigation system ( INS ) to navigate in flight . This allows the missile to guide itself to the target with pinpoint accuracy . Litton Guidance and Control , and Interstate Electronics Corp . were the guidance contractors for the C - model . Development . AGM - 86A / B . In February 1974 , the U . S . Air Force entered into contract to develop and flight - test the prototype or proof - of - concept vehicle AGM - 86A air - launched cruise missile , which was slightly smaller than the later B and C models . The 86A model did not go into production ; it was designed to fit the weapon bay of the B - 1A , which was cancelled ( to be later resurrected as the B - 1B ) . Now being free of the length restriction of the B - 1A weapon bay , the Air Force began full - scale development of the AGM - 86B in January 1977 , which greatly enhanced the B - 52 ' s capabilities and helped the USA maintain a strategic deterrent . Production of the initial 225 AGM - 86B missiles began in fiscal year 1980 and production of a total 1 , 715 missiles was completed in October 1986 . The air - launched cruise missile had become operational four years earlier , in December 1982 . More than 100 launches have taken place since then , with a 90 % approximate success rate . The missile ' s flight path is pre - programmed and it becomes totally autonomous after launch . In June 1986 a limited number of AGM - 86B missiles were converted to carry a high - explosive blast / fragmentation warhead and an internal GPS . They were redesignated as the AGM - 86C CALCM . This modification also replaced the B model ' s terrain contour - matching guidance system ( TERCOM ) and integrated a GPS capability with the existing inertial navigation computer system . AGM - 86C / D . The AGM - 86C is a Conventional Air - Launched Cruise Missile ( CALCM ) and is a conventional blast / fragmentation derivative of the nuclear armed AGM - 86B . The AGM - 86D is the Penetrator version of the CALCM which is designed to attack deeply buried targets . In 1996 and 1997 , 200 additional CALCMs were produced from excess ALCMs . These missiles , designated Block I , incorporate improvements such as a larger and improved conventional payload ( 3 , 000 pound blast class ) , a multi - channel GPS receiver and integration of the buffer box into the GPS receiver . The upgraded avionics package was retrofitted into all existing CALCM ( Block 0 ) so all AGM - 86C missiles are electronically identical . Operations . The CALCM became operational in January 1991 at the onset of Operation Desert Storm . Seven B - 52Gs from Barksdale AFB launched 35 missiles at designated launch points in the U . S . Central Command ' s area of responsibility to attack high - priority targets in Iraq . These " round - robin " missions marked the beginning of the operation ' s Air Force component and are the longest known aircraft combat sorties in history ( more than 14 , 000 miles and 35 hours of flight ) . CALCM ' s next employment occurred in September 1996 during Operation Desert Strike . In response to Iraq ' s continued hostilities against the Kurds in northern Iraq , the Air Force launched 13 CALCMs in a joint attack with the Navy . This mission has put the CALCM program in the spotlight for future modifications . Operation Desert Strike was also the combat debut of the B - 52H and the carriage of the CALCM on the weapons bay - mounted Common Strategic Rotary Launcher ( CSRL ) . During the Operation Desert Storm , the CALCM had been carried on the B - 52G and wing - mounted pylons . The CALCM was also used in Operation Desert Fox in 1998 , Operation Allied Force in 1999 , and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 . Operation Iraqi Freedom was also the combat debut of the AGM - 86D , a further development of the missile which replaced the blast / fragmentation warhead of the AGM - 86C with a penetrating warhead . Future of the ALCM . The Air Force in 2008 maintains an arsenal of 1 , 140 AGM - 86 Air Launched Cruise Missiles and 460 newer and stealthy AGM - 129 ACM ( Advanced Cruise Missiles ) . The B - 52 Stratofortress is the only delivery bomber for these missiles . In 2007 , the USAF announced its intention to retire all of its AGM - 129 ACMs , and to reduce the ALCM fleet by more than 500 missiles , leaving 528 nuclear cruise missiles . The ALCM force will be consolidated at Minot Air Force Base , North Dakota , and all excess cruise missile bodies will be destroyed . The reductions are in part a result of the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty requirement to go below 2 , 200 deployed nuclear weapons by 2012 , with the AGM - 129 ACM chosen because it has reliability problems and also higher maintenance costs . Even with the SLEP , the remaining AGM - 86s will reach their end of service by 2020 , leaving the B - 52 without a nuclear mission . However in 2012 , the USAF announced plans to extend the useful life of the missiles until at least 2030 . The USAF plans to award a contract for the development of the replacement Long - Range Stand - Off ( LRSO ) weapon in 2015 . The technology development contracts are to be submitted before the end of 2012 .