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Aviation History
1983
1983 - 0230.PDF
WORLD MISSILE DIRECTORY Competing anti-radiation missiles. Above British Aerospace Alarm. Below Texas Instruments Harm on an F-18 Hornet modification to the launch aircraft. After release at low level, Alarm is intended to climb to around 40,000ft, then "loiter" until a target is detected. The round will deploy a parachute at the peak of its trajectory, spend a period of time searching for and analysing radar signals. Once a target is selected. Alarm would release the parachute and glide down to attack its chosen victim. Should the latter cease transmitting, an on-board INS guidance unit would keep Alarm on course. BAe has submitted its bid for AST 1228 in completion with the Texas Instruments Harm, and a decision is expected in March of this year. Doubts have been expressed as to whether a new design can meet the 1986 in-service date specified. Hunting Engineering V J291 Development of this unpowered guided dispenser for submunitions was cancelled in 1981 owing to escalating costs, slippages in timeseale, and problems with accuracy. United States Boeing AGM-69A Sram The Short-Range Attack Missile will remain in service as a complement to the Air-Launched Cruise Missile. Boeing is studying potential Sram replacements aimed at meeting developing defence-suppression requirements. Operator US Air Force Strategic Air Command (17 wings of B-52G/Hs—12 missiles on underwing pylons and eight on a rotating launcher in the belly; two wings of FB-lllAs—two rounds under each wing and two in the bomb bay). Hughes AGM-65 Maverick More than 26,000 TV- guided AGM-65A and AGM-65B Maverick rounds were built. Operational accuracy figures declassified by the USAF show that average hit rate from 1,221 firings was 86 per cent. Mean radial error from the centroid of a tank-sized target was only 3ft during trials with telemetry-equipped rounds. Operators US Air Force (two triple launchers on F-4, A-7, and A-10), Hellenic Air Force (F-4), Islamic Iranian Air Force (two triple launchers on F-4E—some rounds fired in combat against Iraqi forces), Israeli Air Force (two triple launchers on F-4E, S. Korean Air Force (F-4), Royal Saudi Air Force (four single launchers on F-5E), Swedish Air Force (AJ37 Viggen), Swiss Air Force (F-5E and Hunter), Turkish Air Force (F-4). AGM-65D IIR Maverick During test firings carried out last year, 20 out of 26 AGM-45D Imaging Infrared (IIR) Maverick rounds scored direct hits on targets such as idling and moving tanks, a hangerette, radar vans, a simulated large building, a patrol boat, and a simulated fuel dump. Eleven of the hits were scored during night missions. Aircraft used included the F-4, F-16.F-111, A-7, and A-10. Launch conditions varied from Mach 0.3 to near supersonic, and from below 500ft to 28,000ft. The joint Development Test and Evaluation/Initial Operation Test and Evaluation trials were used as part of a programme review by the USAF and the US Defence Department. This led to a $160-2 million contract covering low-rate production of the first 200 rounds. Follow-on Operational Test and Evaluation testing is scheduled for 1984. AGM-65E Laser Maverick Developed for use by the US Marine Corps, AGM-65E will be used for close- support missions. The laser-guidance seeker was originally developed for the planned AMG-65C version, but the E carries a 136kg warhead instead of a shaped-charge payload. If the missile seeker loses reflected laser energy, the warhead fuzing system will automatically be inerted to reduce the risk to friendly forces operating close to the target. During test firings carried out last year, USMC pilots scored 15 hits out of 15 shots during test launches from A-4M Sky hawk aircraft. Laser designation of the targets was by A-6E or OV-10 aircraft, or by ground-based infantrymen. Targets included a radar van, tank, APC, bunkers, and moving boats. AGM-65F Navy Maverick Development contract for this specialised variant intended for use against ships and coastal targets was awarded in late 1980. The AGM-65F combines the imaging infrared seeker of the AGM-65D with the heavy warhead and propulsion section of the AGM-65E. Captive flight trials started in October 1981. demonstrating the seeker's ability to recognise ship targets at longer distances than the visual range of the launch aircraft's crew. Hughes/Martin Marietta AGM-62 Walleye A total of 3,600 earlier models of this unpowered electro- optically guided bomb are being converted to the Walleye II ER/DL fSxtended-range/datalink) version. This has larger wings to extend the range, while use of the datalink allows the launch aircraft to carry out evasive manoeuvres while a second aircraft takes command of the weapon. Future versions may use the Maverick imaging infrared seeker. Operators US Air Farce and US Navy (A-4, A-7 and F-4), Israel? Rockwell International GBU-15 Production deliveries to the US Air Force of this long-range glide bomb began in January 1982. Modification kits consisting of television or infrared guidance systems, rear-mounted control surfaces, and longitudinal strakes can be applied to standard Mk84 (900kg) or M118E1 (1,360kg) bombs. Initial deliveries are of the TV-guided version; the IR variant uses the Hughes imaging infrared seeker used on the AGM-65D Maverick version. Operators US Air Force (B-52D, F-lll, F-4E), Australia (F-lllC). Rockwell Interational Hellfire Rockwell is working on a full-scale engineering development of laser-guided Hellfire, initially to arm the AH-64 Apache Advanced Attack Helicopter Production began last year. The first guided firing from an AH-64 took place late in 1979 and initial production of laser Hellfire has been delayed to match the helicopters production schedule. Targets are illuminated by the AH-64's Martin Marietta Tads (target acquisition and designa tion system) or by a GLLD (ground laser locator designator). The modular Hellfire missile has been designed from the outset to accept alternative seekers such as television, infrared, radio-frequency, and dual-mode RF/IR types. Development of an imaging infrared seeker to provide Hellfire with a true "launch and leave" ability was cancelled in 1981. More advanced concepts such as focal-plane array detectors are Still under investigation. The Army and other Services are also looking at alternative applications of the missile, including the A-10, UH-60 Black Hawk, USN/USMC AH-IT, USMC AV-8B, ground vehicles, and other platforms. Texas Instruments Paveway Production of the current Paveway II laser-guided bomb started in 1979. Similar in appearance to the original Paveway I, this version features an improved seeker, folding wings, and greater reliability. Texas Instruments has now begun flight-testing the Paveway III LLLGB (Low-Level Laser-Guided Bomb) suitable for delivery from low altitude. This uses 324 FLIGHT International, 5 February 1983
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