Air-launched ballistic missile
An air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) is a
The ALBM concept was studied in the US as a way to ensure the usefulness and survivability of their large bomber fleet. After testing several experimental designs as part of the
Skybolt ultimately failed several key tests, while the
High Virgo
WS-199B Bold Orion
Developed by
GAM-87 Skybolt
The GAM-87 Skybolt, intended to be launched from Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and Avro Vulcan bombers, was in development by the United States Air Force, with the United Kingdom as a customer. In 1962, with technical difficulties and costs mounting, the program was cancelled, with the United States and the UK concentrating on the UGM-27 Polaris submarine-launched ballistic missile instead.
Air Mobile Feasibility test: C-5 w/ LGM-30
In the early 1970s, the USAF tested air-launching a Minuteman 1b ICBM from a C-5A Galaxy transport aircraft. On 24 October 1974, the Space and Missile Systems Organization successfully conducted an Air Mobile Feasibility test where a C-5A Galaxy aircraft air-dropped the 86,000-pound missile from 20,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean. The missile fell to 8,000 feet before its rocket engine fired. The 10-second engine burn carried the missile to 20,000 feet again before it dropped into the ocean. The test proved the feasibility of launching an intercontinental ballistic missile from the air. Operational deployment was discarded due to engineering and security difficulties, though the capability was used as a negotiating point in the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks.[3][4]
Kh-47M2 Kinzhal
In 2018, Russia unveiled an air-launched ballistic missile called
Chinese DF-21 and DF-17
In March 2018,
In October 2020, a H-6 bomber was spotted at Neixiang Air Base landing with what appeared to be an air-launched ballistic missile similar to the DF-17.[7]
Air-launched ballistic training missiles
The Israeli
See also
References
- ^ Parsch, Andreas (2005). "WS-199". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. designation-systems.net. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
- ^ Peebles 1997, p. 65.
- ^ U.S. Air Force, Inside the AF.MIL Heritage section (Thursday, January 01, 1970 - Sunday, December 31, 1989) Archived October 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Marti and Sarigul-Klijn, A Study of Air Launch Methods for RLVs. Doc No. AIAA 2001-4619, Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Dept, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
- ^ "Russia claims first use of hypersonic Kinzhal missile in Ukraine". BBC News. 19 March 2022.
- ^ "North Korea, Russia, China weapons: Top Pentagon official issues warning". www.news.com.au. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
- ^ D'Urso, Stefano (19 October 2020). "Chinese H-6N Bomber Spotted Carrying Possible Air Launched Ballistic Missile". The Aviationist. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ Jim Miklaszewski, Courtney Kube and Alastair Jamieson (September 3, 2013). "Amid Syria tension, Israel test-fires missile over Mediterranean Sea". NBC News.
External links
- Air-launched Minuteman ICBM
- B-58 Hustler ALBM flight test program - US Air Force documentary film, 1959 (Progress Report #1 - Convair, 1958)