Guided Weapons
(back to the content](back to the content]Predators with an Accurate Mind of their Own

When they started to strike the Greater London area in June 1944, the V-1s were portrayed in Britain as a crude and cowardly means to attack the civil population. Today the cruise missile is being widely adopted as a technologically brilliant and tactically essential means to engage a wide variety of military targets.




Winged autonomous ground attack weapons are increasingly taking over the role of the aircraft in the crucial final phase of ground attacks. The South African Kentron Mupsow was recently unveiled, but had already undergone unpowered flight tests in 1997.

 


Roy Braybrook

The V-1 is a useful starting-point for a discussion of present and future cruise missiles, as it highlighted many of the economic and operational considerations that apply today. Its merits included day/night all-weather operation, simplicity and low cost of construction. Approximately 32 000 were made. It was difficult to defend against, since it had a high speed (644 kilometres per hour), represented a small target and cruised above the effective reach of light anti-aircraft artillery.
On the down side, around 25 per cent of V-1s crashed before reaching Britain, due to poor reliability. Guns and fighters each destroyed about 25 per cent of the remainder, and balloons accounted for a further three per cent. Of the 5000 V-1s launched against Antwerp from October 1944, only 211 reached the target area, largely due to the effectiveness of proximity-fuzed shells.
Today's cruise missiles naturally provide major improvements over the V-1 in most respects, although not all are capable of day/night all-weather operation. To achieve a reasonable degree of immunity from air defence systems, the modern missile can employ defensive routing, avoiding known threat areas and making use of the natural screening provided by valleys and mountains. It can also have reduced signatures, and use low altitude, high speed cruise. Navigation accuracy can benefit from the combination of inertial and satellite systems, and by automatically comparing sensed ground profiles and imagery with digitally-recorded maps. In turn, precise knowledge of missile location over a known landscape allows it to be flown low without the use of active sensors. Accuracy in the terminal phase can benefit from human or automatic target recognition. Preliminary damage assessment can be provided by data-linking missile imagery to an aircraft or a communications satellite.
The following discussion considers how some leading cruise missiles exploit modern technologies in order to enhance penetration capability, range and navigation accuracy, and to provide improved attack profiles and damage assessment. Warhead technology will be considered separately in Armada 4/99.
The Simplest (Corresponding table in this region)The simplest form of a relatively long-range guided weapon is a fixed-geometry glide missile such as the Boeing Jdam (Joint Direct Attack Munition) or the Dasa AFDS (Autonomous Free-flight Dispenser System). A highly effective way to extend range is to add wings of high aspect ratio, which prior to release must be stowed aft in order to permit multiple store carriage. By spreading the aerodynamic lift across a much wider span, the lift-related drag of the missile is reduced, and the glide-slope angle (as dictated by lift/drag ratio) is improved accordingly.

Projekt Fernfeuer

In October it will be 60 years since the Berlin-based Argus Motorenwerken began work on its Projekt Fernfeuer to develop what we would now term a cruise missile. By 1941, the design was based on a small pulse-jet, which was first flight tested on a Go 145 biplane in April of that year. Since the German Air Force had suffered heavy losses in daylight raids against Britain, and since the German Army was then making only slow progress with the V-2/A-4 ballistic missile, Hitler gave his support to the cruise missile concept. This world-first was brought to reality jointly by Argus and Fieseler under the designation V-1, Fi 103 or FZG (Flug-Ziel-Gerät) 76.
The V-1 delivered an 830 kilogram warhead, representing almost 40 per cent of launch mass. Its accuracy was remarkable for its day, most rounds falling in an ellipse ten kilometres across-track and five kilometres along-track, relative to aim-point. Some measure of effectiveness was provided by tracking the three per cent of rounds that were equipped with radio transmitters.
Range from a ground launch was limited to 238 kilometres, hence London's suffering largely ended when launch sites in northern France were overrun by Allied ground forces. However, approximately 1600 V-1s were launched against Britain from He 111 bombers.

Examples of unpowered air-to-ground missiles with flip-out high aspect ratio wings include Israel Military Industries' Msov (modular stand-off vehicle), South Africa's Kentron Raptor 1, and America's Raytheon AGM-154 Jsow (joint stand-off weapon) pronounced "jay sow."
Deliveries of the Jsow began in July 1998, following the award of the first low rate initial production contract in February 1997. The baseline AGM-154A employs an integrated GPS/Inertial Navigation System with provision for up to eight navigation waypoints, and carries a warload of 145 BLU-97B Combined Effects Bomblets submunitions. The Jsow can store up to eight pre-planned missions and receive target data while attached to the parent aircraft in flight.
Raytheon is developing the anti-armour AGM-154B version with six BLU-108 Sensor-Fuzed Weapon submunitions and the AGM-154C with imaging-infrared sensor, AWW-13 datalink, and the BLU-111 general purpose unitary warhead from the 227-kilogram Mk 82 bomb. The possible use of a Royal Ordnance Broach tandem warhead or a kinetic energy penetrator from Lockheed Martin, Matra BAe Dynamics or Rafael is also being studied. The Jsow derives from the United States Navy Aiws (Advanced Interdiction Weapon System) programme for a single weapon system to replace the Walleye, Skipper, Maverick and its older laser-guided bombs. The new missile was required to provide a range of 28 kilometres from low level release and 74 kilometres from altitude, and to be price-capped at $ 50 000 (in 1985 values) without warhead. The Air Force joined the programme in 1992, when it was redesignated Jsow.
Future Jsow development possibilities include a powered version with a range of 185 kilometres. Such a missile, powered by a WJ-24-8 turbojet, was demonstrated by a flight under joint Raytheon/Williams International funding on 29 September 1995. It may also be noted that the imaging-infrared seeker of the AGM-154C provides the potential for autonomous target recognition.


Cruisers

Tomahawk: The cruise missile that has accumulated most operational use is the BGM-109 Tomahawk, for which Raytheon is now the single source (originally developed by General Dynamics and McDonnell Douglas). Some 288 were fired during Desert Storm, and others have since been used against Iraqi targets (including 23 in June 1993). In August 1998, 66 were fired against terrorist targets in Afghanistan, and 13 against a target in the Sudan.
The Tomahawk is described as a day/night all-weather system, although one guidance element would appear to be daylight-only. It is suitable for horizontal or vertical launching, and it has been fired from ships, submarines and ground vehicles. Work on an air-launched version was terminated in 1984. There are four basic versions: the BGM-109A for nuclear land attack, the -109B for conventional ship attack, the -109C for conventional (unitary warhead) land attack and the -109D for land attack with submunitions. The UGM-109 is the submarine-launched variant.
The nuclear land-attack version is a long-range missile with an inertial navigation system that is updated at preselected points by a radar altimeter-based terrain contour-matching (Tercom) system. In the case of the conventionally armed land-attack Tomahawks, Tercoms augmented just prior to the attack by digital scene-matching area correlation Dsmac provide for greater accuracy.




The Raytheon BGM-109 Tomahawk is the standard American strategic cruise missile for firings from surface vessels and submarines.

The Tomahawk can cruise high or low, but its speed is given as Mach 0.50 to 0.75, and press reports suggest that Mach 0.55 (675 kilometres per hour) at low level is typical. In relation to manned aircraft attack speeds this is slow, but the Tomahawk can employ evasive routing.
The BGM-109C/D Block III introduced a GPS receiver, time-of-arrival software, an updated Dsmac-IIA system, increased fuel, an improved engine and a 317 kilogram warhead with PBXN 107 explosive in a titanium case, replacing the original 454 kilogram Bullpup warhead. Both versions of the Block III were flight tested in 1991.
Britain has purchased 65 of these missiles for its nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs). One example was tested off America's West Coast in November 1998. All targeting for Royal Navy Tomahahwks takes place on shore, the data being either pre-loaded while the boat is in dock or transmitted to the SSN while it is on patrol.
In 1994, Hughes (now Raytheon) was awarded a sole-source contract to remanufacture Tomahawk Block IIs to Block III standard. The company was also awarded the development contract for the Tomahawk Baseline Improvement Program, leading to a more capable Block IV missile, to which standard 875 earlier missiles were to be modified.
Raytheon has subsequently proposed a new-build, simplified Tactical Tomahawk that (if the Navy buys 1353 rounds) could be produced for less than $ 570 000, compared to $ 1.4 million for the Block IV as initially planned. Part of the cost reduction would be achieved by replacing the Williams F107-WR-402 turbofan with the slightly less powerful Teledyne J402-CA-400 turbojet used in the Harpoon/Slam family. This would admittedly provide somewhat less range, but the Tactical Tomahawk would still be capable of 1850 kilometres at low level. Cost is further reduced by deleting the requirement to launch from submarine torpedo tubes, which allows a simpler, lighter airframe.
The new design would also introduce a forward-looking television camera and satellite datalink, providing imagery of earlier attacks and an indication of impact accuracy. The Tactical Tomahawk would also have bladder tanks for reduced cost, a more jam-resistant GPS receiver, and an inertial navigation system based on ring-laser (rather than mechanical) gyros. The warhead bay is sized to accommodate a hard target penetrator, or twelve Northrop Grumman Bat (Brilliant Anti-Tank) or 12 Textron SFW (Sensor-Fuzed Weapon) submunitions.
At launch the missile would carry Dsmac data for several alternative targets, but it could also be re-assigned in flight to attack a different target using only GPS/INS navigation. In a new type of mission profile, the Tactical Tomahawk would be able to loiter for up to two hours while waiting to receive target co-ordinates from a variety of possible sources. If the Raytheon proposal is approved, deliveries of the Tactical Tomahawk will take place from 2001 to 2007.

Unpowered, but Stealthy

The cheaper unpowered cruise missile offers the advantage of inherent stealthiness: no noise, no heat plume. Depending on its navigation system, it can be as accurate as the powered variety, but its range directly depends on the altitude at which it is launched (strictly speaking, the Raptor 1 is a long-range laser-guided glide bomb, but a more refined navigation system is envisaged). Furthermore, it cannot fly any long distance at low level to exploit cover from terrain.
Eric H. Biass

Alcm: The Boeing AGM-86B entered service on the B-52 in 1982, and is in broadly the same weight and range categories as the BGM-109A. Navigation is provided by a combination of inertial and radar altimeter-based contour matching. The AGM-86B is supplemented in the US Air Force nuclear weapon inventory by the stealthy Boeing AGM-129A ACM (Advanced Cruise Missile), which reportedly provides major advances in range, survivability, accuracy and targeting. Deliveries began in 1990, but procurement is believed to have been restricted to 1000 units.
Approximately 300 AGM-86Bs have been converted to -86C Calcm standard (the new C standing for "conventionally-armed"), with 454-kilogram warheads and GPS receivers for improved accuracy. During the Gulf War, B-52Gs are believed to have released over 90 Calcms in attacks against eight Iraqi targets, and around 70 have been used since.




The Boeing AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) in later production form, with a modified (non axisymmetric) nose to reduce radar signature.

In 1998, Boeing was awarded a contract to upgrade 28 AGM-86Cs to Block IA standard, with jam-resistant eight-channel GPS receivers and other improvements. The Block II upgrade of the AGM-86C was planned to have a hard target penetration warhead in the form of either the Royal Ordnance Broach or Lockheed Martin Advanced Unitary Penetrator (AUP-3M). However, recent reports indicate that there are problems in achieving the desired impact angle and the necessary accuracy. The Block II may thus be limited to a 900-kilogram blast-fragmentation warhead.

KH-55: Russia's equivalent of the Boeing AGM-86B is the Raduga Kh-55SM (AS-15), which is powered by an Omsk TRDD-50 turbofan and employs inertial guidance with some form of Tercom update.

The Simplest: Unpowered

MSOV (IMI)
Total
Warhead
Length
Span
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[km]
1050
675
3.97
2.70
100
Status: under development, project unveiled at 1997 Paris air Show, features modular submunition underbelly bay, on-ground or in-flight mission programming.
Raptor 1 (Kentron)
Total
Warhead
Length
Span
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[km]
980
550
3.65
3.70
60+
Status: original TV-guided Raptor out of production, used during Angolan war but unveiled in 1998; smarter and more autonomous guided version under consideration.
JSOW AGM-154 (Raytheon)
Total
Warhead
Length
Span
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[km]
681
227
4.10
n/a
75
Status: AGM-154 A in production, uses INS+GPS, first used in Jan 1999 when three were released from US Navy F/A-18s against an Iraqi SA-3 site.
Lasm: The Gulf War encouraged the development of a range of air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missiles. One example in the latter category is Raytheon's proposed Lasm (land attack standard missile), which would provide the US Navy with mid-range fire support, filling the gap between gunfire and Tomahawk. The Lasm is currently based on the Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) Block II and III, although the Block IV would reportedly provide over twice the range. It has Raytheon's GPS-Aided Inertial Navigation System (Gains) in place of the semi-active radar seeker of the surface-to-air missile. In baseline form, LASM has a modified Mk 125 warhead that scatters fragments horizontally from a vertical descent, instead of throwing them forwards. However, various submunition warheads are also being studied. LASM appears to be regarded as a viable interim system for the Navy, pending development of a longer-range ballistic missile.

Slam: In a shorter range category the Boeing AGM-84E Slam (stand-off land attack missile) is already available as a derivative of the Harpoon anti-ship missile series. The Harpoon was designed for operation from aircraft, ships, submarines and shore installations. It first flew in 1972, and over 7000 have been ordered, including over 3000 for foreign services. The Harpoon carries a 222-kilogram blast warhead and employs inertial midcourse and active radar terminal guidance.



The Boeing RGM-84E Sea Slam (Stand-off Land Attack Missile). In tests a Sea Slam passed through a hole in the target made by the preceding missile.

The Harpoon Block I entered service in 1976 and in 1980 was given a sea-skimming capability to meet British requirements. A similar domestic version was delivered in 1982 as the Block IB. The Block IC of 1984 provided extra range, waypoint navigation and counter-countermeasures improvements. The collapse of the former Soviet Union led to termination of plans to manufacture the stretched Block ID, which would have provided more range and a re-attack capability. However, re-attack is provided by the current Block IG, deliveries of which began in 1997. From 2000 the standard production Harpoon will be the Block II, equipped with the integrated inertial and satnav system from the Jdam. This version will provide capability against shore targets and ships in coastal waters or in harbour. Denmark is buying 50 retrofit kits, and the US Navy has earmarked funding for 300.




The air-launched Raduga Kh-59ME (AS-18) is a television-guided cruise missile for attacks on small ground or surface targets of known location.

Uran & Raduga: The Russian counterpart of the Harpoon is the Zvezda Kh-35 Uran AS-20/(SS-N-25), which is used in both air- and ship-launched forms. The first export order is believed to have been for the Indian Navy's Delhi Project 15 destroyer. In broadly the same range class is the heavier air-launched Raduga Kh-59ME (AS-18). In a somewhat longer-range category, Raduga has offered for co-operative development the Kh-65SE anti-ship derivative of the strategic nuclear missile.

Slam: The AGM-84E Slam is a dedicated land attack derivative of the Harpoon, based on the stretched (and now defunct) Block ID. It combines inertial and satnav midcourse navigation with man-in-the-loop terminal guidance provided by means of the imaging-infrared seeker from the AGM-65 Maverick and the Walleye datalink. The operator places the cross hairs over the target, after which the missile functions autonomously. Slam deliveries began in 1988; it was first used operationally in the 1991 Gulf War.

Slam-ER: In 1995 development work began on the AGM-84H Slam-ER (Expanded Response). The cruciform stub wings of the Harpoon are replaced with flip-out high aspect ratio planar wings that provide over twice the range. It also has an improved 227-kilogram WDU-40/B warhead with a titanium casing. Other features include a five-channel GPS, an improved datalink, larger control surfaces, a low-drag nose fairing, laser ring gyros and adaptive terrain following. A freeze-frame video facility makes aim-point selection easier. An automated mission planning module reduces preparation time from several hours to less than 30 minutes.




Final dive for a Boeing Slam-ER (Expanded Response) For mounting under the aircraft the wings are folded back under the body.

A First Step into the Era of Unmanned Aircraft

The cruise missile - generally understood to be a missile powered by a turbine engine with an autonomous guidance system - has demonstrated its worth during the past decade and still is at time of writing. Unlike the V-1 discussed elsewhere, it enables attacking forces to reach military-only targets, whilst keeping one's own personnel well out of counter-attack reach. Typically these are air defence radars, communications centres, electrical powerplants, fuel depots and runways. A force that is denied such assets already has one knee to the ground. Granted, there have been reports of civilian casualties, but largely the aim is to keep the business clean for one good reason: to give as little grip as possible to counter propaganda.
Accuracy is therefore of paramount importance. Cynical leaders have mastered the art of launching attacks from areas close to civilian populations, knowing that they would spark off some form of counter-attack. Rockets proved that they were not accurate enough, and a worldwide propaganda ensued.
This is the reason why, broadly speaking, cruise missiles remained nuclear weapons until the late 1970s when, finally, reasonably accurate navigation systems, particularly those based on mapping provided by satellites for on-board terrain comparison devices, became available. There is little doubt now that the cruise missile is paving the way for a new era: that of the unmanned aircraft. Cruise missiles already incorporate some form of passive self-protection, like low electromagnetic reflectivity and heat emission. Active self-protection is the next step.
Eric H. Biass



The Raytheon Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW) during testing on an F-16. The AGM-154B variant houses six Textron Systems BLU-108 Sensor-Fuzed Weapon submunitions.

In addition to new-build Slam-ERs, at least 600 Slams already in the US Navy inventory are to be upgraded to this standard. The ER is due to enter service this year on Navy F/A-18s. Automatic target recognition based on stored imagery from satellites or other sensor platforms is due to be added by next year, producing the Slam-ER+. Future plans include a ship-launched version, real-time targeting direct from the sensor to the launch platform, and a 450-kilogram warhead.
It is planned that around 2007 the avionics and warhead of the Slam-ER+ will be used in a new hypersonic missile named the Boeing Fasthawk. However, the concept of a new subsonic Slam variant with a lifting-body airframe is also being studied in case Fasthawk is delayed.

Jassm: The US Air Force's rival for the Slam-ER+ is the Lockheed Martin AGM-158 Jassm (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile). It anticipated that the US Air Force and Navy will buy a total of around 2400 Jassms at a target unit price of less than $ 400 000. Equipped with a Teledyne J402 turbojet and flip-out wings. Satellite mid-course guidance will be augmented with the use of an uncooled two-colour imaging infrared seeker for the terminal area. One of the aims of the programme is to reduce planning from the six hours reportedly needed by the Tomahawk's Dsmac to less than one hour, using computer-modified synthetic aperture radar imagery generated by the E-8 Joint-Stars or Lacrosse satellites to synthesise a low level view and provide autonomous target recognition. A variety of warheads are under consideration. A useful indication of damage will be provided by a transmitter that broadcasts its identity and position just prior to impact, and television imagery from the final 20 seconds.

Apache & Pearl: The very low price of Jassm (which could fall below $ 300 000) poses a major threat to European cruise missiles such as the Matra BAe Dynamics Apache and its derivatives. The low observable Apache AP (anti-piste) is Europe's first conventionally-armed cruise missile, and is intended solely for the destruction of runways. It is powered by a Microturbo TRI 60-30 turbojet, and employs inertial mid-course navigation with altimetric scene-correlation. Estimated position is updated periodically by a Thomson-CSF Prométhée millimetre-wave radar, which also provides target recognition and initiates the dispensing of ten Matra/TDA Kriss runway-piercing submunitions.
In October 1997, the French Ministry of Defence placed a FF 1.5 billion order for 100 Apache APs, a programme in which Aerospatiale Missiles has a 42.5 per cent share. Deliveries to the French Air Force will begin in 2000. In September 1997, when Qatar took delivery of three Mirage 2000-5s, they were shown with the Black Pearl missile, which is presumably the first export version of Apache.




The Thomson-CSF (now Detexis) Prométhée millimetre-wave radar, which is used in the case of the Apache for navigation checks and target recognition.

Storm Shadow/Scalp EG: The next member of the Apache family is known as Storm Shadow in the context of the British EF2000, Harrier GR7 and Tornado GR4, and as Scalp EG (Emploi Général) when arming the French Mirage 2000, 2000-5 and Rafale. It retains the same engine as Apache, but has an increased fuel capacity and a Royal Ordnance Broach tandem warhead. Inertial mid-course navigation is updated by a Sextant GPS receiver and a terrain reference system. In the terminal pop-up attack a Marconi/TME Ibis imaging-infrared seeker with Matra BAe Dynamics processing provides automatic target recognition.
In February 1997, Britain placed a £ 700 million order for an unspecified number of Storm Shadows (reported as 750), and in December of that same year France ordered 500 Scalp EGs.
Germany was originally scheduled to buy Apaches, but in 1996 decided to leave the programme and develop its own penetration missile. In March 1998, the German Defence Ministry signed a contract with Dasa's LFK to develop a modular stand-off weapon, the Maw Taurus or Kepd 350. To manage the programme a new company, Taurus Systems, has been formed, with Dasa owning 67 per cent of the shares and Bofors Missiles the remainder.
The Kepd 350 is equipped with a Williams P8300-13 turbofan, a TDW Mephisto tandem warhead and a navigation system that combines GPS/INS, terrain reference and imaging-infrared inputs. There have been reports that genuine all-weather capability may be provided by combining imaging-infrared and millimetre-wave terminal guidance. A target unit price of $ 675 000 has been reported.

Wide angle view
Imaging infrared Contoured image Geometrical reference model Correlation factor


Narrow angle view
Imaging infrared 6°x4° Contoured image Geometrical reference model Correlation factor



Is seeker technology, both in terms of algorithmic processing and resolution, ripe enough for accurate supersonic attack? These two simulated sequences of an attack from a Matra BAe Apache/Storm Shadow illustrate the difficulty. After radar navigation close to target, imaging infrared angle is narrowed to reduce processing time.

Navigation

Where guidance is normally the term used to designate a system that helps a missile to home onto its target, navigation is a more appropriate word for qualifying the homing device of the brilliant cruise missile. The ideal brilliant cruise missile should be able to find its assigned target on its own, as a pilot would: first by flying in the general direction of the target, then by «visually»spotting the actual target.
The first segment can be done by using gyro-based navigation (mechanical or laser) or GPS - or a combination of these - in association with brief radar flashes towards the ground to reset position by comparing the terrain under with a grid map stored in memory. This enables very convoluted flight paths to be followed to avoid known air defence positions and fly low under horizontal cover provided by terrain.
The second segment is the trickiest, and needs to rely on the very latest technologies in the field of image processing. Whether the sensor is an infrared or millimetric radar sensor, it will require high resolution to enable the missile to recognise its target by comparing what it sees ahead with pictures stored in memory. The art will be mastered when the missile is capable of dealing with changing situations due to jamming, camouflaging (and even altered target appearance resulting from damages from an earlier attack). One can imagine the required computing capacity.
Eric H. Biass

Kepd 150: A lighter variant with reduced range (Kepd 150) has been proposed for Sweden's JAS39, and a captive flight of a ballasted mock-up took place on that aircraft in August 1998. LFK has proposed an active radar ship-launched version (KEPD 150-SLM) as a Harpoon replacement for the German Navy, but there are doubts whether that service can fund such a programme.




The second member of the Taurus Systems family of cruise missiles is the lighter KEPD 150 proposed for Sweden's Gripen multi-role fighter.

Future customers for anti-ship missiles may well demand more range than the current generation (a trend exemplified by the 270 kilometres of the KEPD 150-SLM), but there is no consensus of opinion on whether the missile should be supersonic or subsonic and stealthy.




The Dasa/Bofors MAW Taurus or KEPD 350 hard target cruise missile is equipped with a Williams P8300-13 turbofan and a TDW Mephisto penetration warhead.

Mupsow: The Mupsow is a South African development on which Kentron has been working under contract from the Air Force since 1991. According to Kentron, full-scale development has now reached an advanced stage, with several glide launches having been performed. No powerplant has been selected so far. Payload would primarily be anti-runway, but unitary high explosive and, more interestingly, "Broach-like" types are envisaged.


Hypersonic

France is the leading Western power to advocate the development of a supersonic anti-ship cruise missile, although Aerospatiale is also working as a minor partner of Norway's Kongsberg in the subsonic NSM (New anti-Ship Missile) programme. In October 1998 the Délégation Générale pour l'Armament (DGA) signed a definition study contract with Aerospatiale for the ANF (Anti-Navire Futur), based on the Vesta ramjet technology demonstrator, three flight tests of which are scheduled by 2002.
The ANF (an Exocet replacement) is to have a range of 150 to 200 kilometres and a cruise speed of Mach 2.5 to 3.0. The programme starts with the ship-launched version, which is due for flight test in 2002 and deliveries from 2004. The initial production batch for the French Navy is expected to cover 100 to 200 rounds to arm 12 ships. There will be an air-to-surface version developed in the 2004 to 2007 time frame, and submarine-launched and coastal battery versions between 2006 and 2009. Reports suggest that Britain and Italy may join the ANF programme.


East

The ANF will be the West's first supersonic anti-ship missile, but Russia already has two such weapons in service and new supersonic and hypersonic designs in development. The Mach 3 Zvezda-Strela Kh-31A (AS-17) is light enough to be carried by the MiG-29, but is claimed to be effective against vessels of up to 8000 tonnes. It has been ordered by China and India, and a sea-skimming target derivative (MA-31) jointly developed with Boeing has been tested by the US Navy.




Russia's lead in supersonic missiles is shown by the Mach 3 Zvezda-Strela Kh-31 (AS-17), which is used in both anti-ship Kh-31A and anti-radar Kh-31P forms.

The much heavier 3M-80E (SS-N-22), designed by Raduga and manufactured by Progress, likewise uses a combination of rocket and ramjet propulsion. It cruises at 2800 kilometres per hour, reportedly at a height of 20 metres, descending to seven metres in the terminal phase. In addition to its active radar mode, it can employ anti-radiation and home-on-jam modes. Assessed by Nato as the most potent challenge to existing shipboard defences, the 3M-80 entered service in 1980 on Sovremenny-class destroyers.

The 3M-80E has been exported to China, and has been exhibited as a centreline store on a Sukhoi Su-33, although this combination may be no more than a proposal. Altair is said to have proposed a coastal defence system based on the 3M-80. There have been references to a 3M-82 Moskit-M of 150-kilometre range.


Cruisers

Tomahawk BGM-109A (orig. Gen. Dyn.)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
1360
(W-80)**
6.25
2.62
3.11
2400
Status: In production, the109A is the nuclear attack variety with an INS updated at preselected waypoints by radar-altimeter-based Tercom.
Tomahawk BGM-109B (Raytheon)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
1360
454
6.25
2.62
3.11
480
Status: In production, -B variant is for ship attack, relatively short range, inertial mid-course guidance and radar derived from Harpoon, includes radar altimeter for sea-skimming.
Tomahawk BGM-109C (Raytheon)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
1360
454
6.25
2.62
3.11
480
Status: In production, -A version for conventional land attack, day/night, all-weather system suitable for horizontal or vertical launch, Tercoms augmented just prior to attack by Dsmac providing greater accuracy.
ALCM AGM-86B (Boeing)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
1452
(W-80)**
6.32
3.66
2.67
2800
Status: Many converted to AGM-86C standard. Initially developed as air-to-surface turbofan-powered, swing-wing nuke. Inventory supplemented by AGM-129A ACM.
CALCM AGM-86C (Boeing)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
1452
454
6.32
3.66
2.67
2800
Status: Following 1980s agreements on nuclear weapons reduction, a number of original Alcm warheads had to be pensioned off. About 300 airframes have been recycled into conventional cruise missiles with an alleged 160 put to good use over Iraq.
Slam AGM-84E (Boeing)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
628
227
4.49
0.91
2.94
110
Status: Land attack derivative of Harpoon, deliveries began in 1988, first operational use in 1991 Gulf War. It combines inertial and satnav nav with man-in-the-loop terminal guidance via imaging-infrared seeker.
Kh-35 Uran* (Zvezda)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
600
145
4.40
1.315
n/a
130
Status: Production, anti-ship missile nicknamed Harpoonsky in West. Initial flight is inertially controlled then final homing is with active radar. All fins, including those of jettisoned booster are folded and deploy after launch.
Kh-59ME* (Raduga)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
930
320
5.69
1.30
n/a
115
Status: Production, known to Nato as AS-18 Kazoo; belly-pod turbine-powered version of the TV-guided Kh-59; canards deploy. Essentially designed for the Russian counterpart of the Fairchild A-10, the Sukhoi Su-24M Frogfoot.
Jassm AGM-15 (Lockheed M.)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
1000
450
4.27
n/a
4.25
450
Status: Production to begin in 2001 with US forces projecting a 2400-unit purchase. Uses stealth technology and flies direct to target. A variety of warheads are under consideration.
Apache AP (MBD)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
1230
n/a
5.10
2.84
n/a
140
Status: Europe's first conventionally-armed cruise missile, is intended solely for destruction of runways. France placed 100-unit order. Export version is known as the Black Pearl.
Scalp EG (MBD)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
1300
n/a
5.10
n/a
2.84
200+
Status: Around 1300 ordered by Britain and France, deliveries in 2001, same engine as Apache, but is a longer-range hard target penetrator.
Kepd 350 (Taurus)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
1400
n/a
5.00
n/a
6.67
350+
Status: Germany dropped Apache-buying plans to develop Taurus (Dasa & Bofors). All-weather with imaging-infrared and millimetre-wave terminal guidance. Should run around $ 675 00 per unit.
Kepd 150 (Taurus)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
1060
n/a
4.50
n/a
5.78
200+
Status: The lighter Kepd variant for Sweden's JAS39, mock-up flight took place in August '98.
Kepd 150-SLM (Taurus)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
1800*
n/a
5.80
n/a
5.78
270
Status: LFK had proposed this ship-launched version for German Navy but current funding restrictions might prevent such a deal.
Mupsow (Kentron)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
1200
n/a
4.92
1.9
not defined
n/a
Status: awaiting launch customer for final, powered development, glide tests carried out; hybrid navigation, data link, choice of TV, IIR or MMW seekers; anti-runway submunitions, unitary warhead or bunker penetrator payloads offered.
Kh-31A (Zvezda)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
600
90
4.70
1.103
n/a
50
Status: in production; a version, presumably sans warhead, was delivered to the United States as target for anti-missile missile tests. Ramjet-powered, it is a popular sight under Russian aircraft at air shows; claimed to kill 8000-tonne displacement ships.
3M-80E (Raduga/Progress)
Weight
Warhead
Length
Span
Thrust
Range
[kg]
[kg]
[m]
[m]
[kn]
[km]
4150
300
9.385
n/a
2.10
Status: unclear, produced for, inter alia, the Udaloy class. Unbelievably called Moskit (mosquito), this massive fire-and-forget missile known to the West as the SS-N-22 Sunburn is powered by ramjet and it flies at Mach 2.5.
Notes:* indicates with boost motor; ** = nuclear warhead; MBD = Matra BAe Dynamics

  


 (back to the content](back to the content]