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AGM-86C C-ALCM The conventional air-launched cruise missile (C-ALCM) was developed from the nuclear-armed AGM-86B version during the 1980s. It is now the primary weapon of the B-52 fleet and has seen action against Iraq on three occasions. The first attack took place in 1991 on the opening day of Operation Desert Storm, B-52s flying from continental USA to launch the missiles against Iraq. This set the record for the longest-ever bombing mission with the B-52 crews flying 35 hours. B-52s flew from Guam in the Pacific to launch AGM-86Cs against Iraq in 1996 and B-2s based on Diego Garcia fired 90 missiles during Operation Desert Fox. With a range in excess of 2,778km, the C-ALCM gives the USAF true global reach. The USAF fired over 70 of the weapons during Operation Allied Force that led the USAF to contract Boeing to convert 322 nuclear-armed AGM-32Bs into conventional versions to replace stocks. AGM-88 HARM The USAF's primary anti-radiation missile is now the Raytheon AGM-88 high-speed, anti-radiation missile (HARM). It has largely replaced the older Vietnam-era AGM-45 Shrike. The first HARMs were delivered in 1982 for use by the USAF F-4G Wild Weasel squadron. This role has now been taken by the F-16CJ, equipped with the HARM targeting system (HTS). This allows the F-16CJ pilot to point the HARM at hostile radars and hand over key targeting data. Upgrade programmes are underway, in co-operation with the US Navy to maintain HARM's lethality that includes fitting GPS navigation systems and a long-term project involves fitting a ram-jet power plant. AGM-154 JSOW This joint stand-off weapon (JSOW) is being produced by Raytheon to allow targets to be attacked safely from outside the range of enemy air defences. All frontline USAF and US Navy combat aircraft, including the B-2, will be able to employ the weapon that is modular in design to allow a number of payload and guidance options. Using a high-altitude launch, the JSOW has a launch range of 64km and at low altitude 24 km. Power-plant options include rocket or turbo-jets. The baseline AGM-154A is now in production. It has a BLU-97 sub-munition dispenser. The AGM-154B has a BLU-106 sub-munition dispenser and the AGM-154C has a BLU-111 unitary high explosive payload. US Navy units that used the weapon during air strikes against Iraq in January 1999 and later in Kosovo reported excellent results from the 66 weapons fired during the year. CBU-97 sensor-fused weapon To provide USAF with the ability to defeat large formations of armoured vehicles, the CBU-97 family of so-called smart cluster bombs has been developed. Unlike old versions of the cluster bomb the CBU-97 dispenses 10 BLU-108/B smart sub-munitions that are guided to their target by an infra-red seeker. Developed by Textron Systems, the CBU-97 is intended to be used by attack aircraft flying over enemy troop positions. Once a target has been found the weapon is dropped. As it nears the ground the sub-munitions are dispensed in a wide pattern and start homing in on large hot objects, such as tanks, trucks and artillery pieces. The sub-munition carries an on-board library of heat signatures to help it determine valid targets. The SFW is to be retrofitted this year with a wind-corrected munitions dispenser kit. The SFW BLU-108/B sub-munition is now also a payload in the joint stand-off weapon. JASSM In November 1998 Lockheed Martin was awarded a $132.8-million-dollar contract to complete the engineering and development phase of the joint air-to-surface missile (JASSM). This is the USAF and US Navy's next generation of long-range stand-off precision-guided munitions. It is intended to replace the AGM-130, HAVE NAP and early model AGM-84 SLAM series of weapons on a wide range of combat aircraft, including the B-2. Production is planned to start this year or early in 2002, the USAF to buy 2,400 rounds in a programme worth more than $2 billion. The missile is designed to be stealthy and images released to date show the weapon has a very futuristic shape. The future During the past ten years the USAF's armoury of precision-guided munitions has come of age. In the Gulf, Kosovo and Bosnia, the smart bomb has become the backbone of USAF operations, making up the majority of munitions employed. The USAF air armaments centre is directing the service's future smart-weapon road map. High on its shopping list are miniaturised or small-diameter weapons that can be carried internally on stealth aircraft such as the new F-22 Raptor, Joint Strike Fighter and the B-2. Many current weapons are designed for external carriage and are too large to be carried in large numbers inside the weapon bays of new-generation combat aircraft. The first of these is the Lockheed Martin low-cost autonomous attack system, better known as LOCAAS. This has the potential to annihilate tanks, surface-to-air missiles and theatre ballistic missiles and is so advanced it would make Luke Skywalker's eyes water. Up to 192 of these 30in, precision-guided munitions can be carried by B-1 or B-2 bombers in glider or powered versions. The gliders will have a range of about 40 miles, the powered units up to 100 miles. After being launched, the seeker begins a relentless hunt. It can identify targets such as tanks, armoured personnel carriers, trucks, radar and surface-to-air missile sites. It can analyse its surroundings even further, determining what kind of tank it's looking at. The projected unit cost is $30,000 for the powered version. Next on the USAF agenda is unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs). Experiments arming Predator UAVs with Hellfire laser-beam-riding missiles having already begun. |
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| Early Maverick missiles had simple television cameras that have been replaced by imaging infra-red sensors and laser homing seekers. The latest versions use CCD sensors that will increase reliability and service life | ||||||
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| Upgrade programmes for the high-speed, anti-radiation missile (HARM) include fitting GPS navigation systems and a long-term project involves fitting a ram-jet power plant | ||||||
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