AGM-69 SRAM
| AGM-69A SRAM | |
|---|---|
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| General Information | |
| Type | Air-to-surface missile |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| development | 1966 |
| Commissioning | 1972 |
| Working time | 1990 |
| Unit price | $ 592,000 |
| Technical specifications | |
| length | 4270 mm |
| diameter | 440 mm |
| Combat weight | 1,010 kg |
| span | 900 mm |
| drive | Solid rocket engine |
| speed | Mach 3.0-3.5 |
| Range | 220 km |
| Furnishing | |
| Target location | INS |
| Warhead | W-69 nuclear warhead 170–210 kT |
| Weapon platforms | Planes |
| Lists on the subject | |
The AGM-69A SRAM (Short Range Attack Missile) was an air-to-surface missile made by the American manufacturer Boeing with a nuclear warhead .
development
In 1966, Boeing received an order to develop a successor system to the AGM-28 Hound Dog . The strategic bomber B-52 and the medium-range bomber FB-111 were intended as deployment platforms . The first test launch of an AGM-69 took place in 1969. The first weapons were delivered to the Strategic Air Command in September 1972 . After the production of 1,500 guided missiles, the production lines were closed in 1975.
The strategic bombers B-1B and B-2 were later added as additional operational platforms .
technology
The AGM-69 was controlled using an inertial navigation platform . A precision ( CEP ) of 430 m was achieved. In the FB-111, the target coordinates were communicated to the weapon via the aircraft's navigation system. The AGM-69 was powered by a high-energy dual-pulse solid rocket engine SR75-LP-1 from Lockheed . This rocket drive could pause between the ignition of the start and march drive. There could be up to 80 seconds between the two ignitions. The thermonuclear W-69 warhead could detonate in the air by means of a proximity fuse or triggered by the impact fuse on contact with the ground. The AGM-69 had four attack profiles programmed in:
- Semi-ballistic trajectory: When taking off from low flight, the range was around 80 km. When taking off from a great height, the range of this attack profile was over 200 km.
- Off-road flight : The guided missile flew in contour flight . An altimeter provided the necessary safety distance between the missile and the terrain.
- Inertial flight: The guided missile flew on a raised take-off phase. This flight phase was followed by a short aerodynamically propulsionless flight, which lasted due to the missile lift. Then the cruise engine was ignited and the guided missile flew directly to the target from a great height.
- Combined flight: An initial cruise flight at high altitude was followed by a final target attack in low flight.
Carrier aircraft:
- B-52 : 20 SRAM (eight in the weapon bay , six each under the wings)
- FB-111: 6 SRAM (two in the weapon bay, two each under the wings)
- B-1B: 24–32 SRAM (24 in the weapon bay on three rotating release systems - four each under the wings)
- B-2A: 16 SRAM (in the weapon bay)
commitment
The AGM-69 was intended as a support weapon for the US bombers. The bombers should have fought their way to their targets with the nuclear AGM-69 SRAM in an attack on the Soviet Union . Targets such as military airfields, radar stations and anti-aircraft positions would have been attacked with SRAMs, while the main target would have been attacked with large-caliber nuclear free-fall bombs.
status
In 1990 the SRAMs were withdrawn from active service and scrapped. This was mainly for safety reasons, as the warheads were not adequately protected against fire and accidents. The solid rocket fuel in the guided missiles also began to decompose. The successor model AGM-131 SRAM II was deleted in 1991 by President George HW Bush without replacement.
Web links
- www.fas.org
- www.designation-systems.net
- Development and use of the AGM-69 - film at youtube.com
- Boeing AGM-69 "SRAM" ( Memento from May 31, 2013 in the Internet Archive )