The US Air Force has begun developing a strategy to replace the Boeing AGM-86C Conventional Air Launched Cruise Missile (CALCM) following the allocation by the US Congress of $40 million in fiscal year (FY) 2001 for work on the Extended Range Cruise Missile (ERCM).
The USAF's list of FY2001 unfunded priorities had requested $86 million to start ERCM work. As envisaged, the missile would be an improvement of an existing weapon.
The ERCM is viewed as an interim measure ahead of development of the high-speed Long Range Cruise Missile (LRCM). In the meantime, Boeing has a $178 million contract to rearm 322 air-launched cruise missiles with conventional warheads to replenish stocks used in recent operations. No additional ALCMs are available for conversion.
Four companies responded to a USAF request for information: Boeing proposing a longer-range CALCM; Lockheed Martin with a stretched, 1,850km (1,000nm)-range, turbofan-powered Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile; Raytheon with a variant of the Advanced Cruise Missile; and Orbital Sciences which specialises in aerial targets and launch vehicles. A request for proposals is expected in December, with study contract awards to follow by June, say industry officials.
The USAF hopes to speed development and fielding of the ERCM, which is likely to have twice CALCM's believed 970km range. The intention is to purchase 618 ERCMs worth about $700 million in FY2007-08. A blast/fragmentation warhead will initially arm the missile, but BAE Systems predicts that there will be requirement for a penetrator warhead like its Broach system. Lockheed Martin's rival Advanced Unitary Penetrator has already been selected for CALCM.
The intention is to replace ERCM with a new long-range weapon by around 2010 and a LRCM analysis of alternatives study is expected to get under way in FY02-03. Up to 1,000 of the new missiles would be procured.
Source: Flight International