How dangerous are stealth rockets AGM-158, which fell into the hands of Russia
In the first half of the two thousandths, the latest air-to-surface guided missile AGM-158 JASSM was adopted by several US Air Force attack aircraft. Almost simultaneously with this, work began on the creation of its improved modifications, including specialized. To date, we are talking about a whole family of weapons based on JASSM. Consider the development of the original project and the results of these works.
Base AGM-158
The JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) program started in 1995. Development on a competitive basis continued until 1998, when the Lockheed Martin project was chosen as the winner of the program. Shortly thereafter, tests of the individual components began. The flight tests of the AGM-158A rocket were carried out from 1999. Due to various difficulties, the development of the rocket was delayed, and the order for adoption was issued only in 2003.
AGM-158A was a cruise missile with a normal aerodynamic design with a starting mass of 975 kg. The glider was built taking into account the decrease in radar visibility, introducing the concept of "stealth". A low power turbojet engine is used. Control systems include inertial navigation and an infrared homing head to search for targets at the end of the flight. Defeat the target is made 420-kg warhead. Flight speed - subsonic, range - 370 km.
The AGM-158A JASSM missile can be used by a wide range of US Air Force planes. It is compatible with tactical and strategic land and deck vehicles. aviation.
The first episode of the combat use of JASSM took place on April 14 2018. Two B-1B bombers launched 19 missiles at targets on the territory of Syria. According to the Pentagon, all missiles have reached their goals. The Syrian and Russian military, in turn, spoke about the defeat of most of the missiles by air defense forces. In addition, two AGM-158A products fell and went to the Syrian army, which transferred them to Russia for study.
Extended range
Even before the completion of work on JASSM, the customer considered its flight range insufficient to solve some problems. In this regard, the project JASSM-ER (Extended Range) was launched in 2002. The upgraded missile with the AGM-158B index was supposed to fly at a distance of 575 miles (925 km) and be able to carry new warheads. There were no other special requirements for the rocket.
The development of AGM-158B took several years. Lockheed Martin managed to ensure the maximum possible unification of the new and basic product. The design of the two missiles is identical at 70%, and the software at 95%. Customer requirements were fully met. Estimated flight range increased to the desired 575 miles. The main objective of the project was solved by increasing the volume of fuel tanks and replacing the engine.
JASSM-ER trials started in 2006. The B-1B bomber was the first carrier rocket. The tests were associated with some difficulties and lasted several years. The missile was officially adopted only in 2014. The introduction of the product into the range of ammunition of various aircraft also stretched for several years.
According to its results, the missile AGM-158B can carry all the main combat aircraft of the US Air Force. Long-range bombers are capable of carrying from 16 to 24 missiles on external and internal suspension. Tactical aircraft carry only a few items. It is curious that due to the large dimensions of the JASSM-ER does not fit in the cargo compartment of the F-35 fighter. This in a known manner limits the combat qualities of an aircraft and rockets.
Since 2016, the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin have been implementing a program to further increase flight range. The modernization of the rocket is planned to be completed in the near future. Improvements will be introduced as mass production.
Ultimate range
The JASSM-ER project provided for a limited design change to the basic cruise missile required to increase flight range. Since last year, Lockheed Martin has been developing a completely new project with similar goals. The JASSM-XR (Extreme Range) missile should be based on AGM-158A / B developments, but have a different design and higher performance.
JASSM-XR starting weight will be increased to 2300 kg; warhead - up to 910 kg. The flight speed will remain subsonic, and the range can be brought to 1000 miles (more than 1600 km).
The JASSM-XR project is still at the design stage. Tests are scheduled for the early twenties. Not earlier than the middle of the decade, the rocket will go into service. It can be assumed that the increase in size and launch weight in comparison with the base AGM-158 will reduce the list of carrier aircraft and adversely affect the size of their ammunition.
CHAMP Project
Since 2012, several organizations led by the Air Force Research Laboratory have been working on the CHAMP (Counter-electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project) project. Its goal is to create a compact electromagnetic weaponscapable of hitting enemy electronic systems. The finished product must fit on different types of media.
A few years ago it became known about plans to install the CHAMP unit on the JASSM-ER cruise missile. Such weapons will appear at the disposal of the Air Force in the mid-twenties. Meanwhile, electromagnetic weapons of other models are already entering the troops. In May of this year, the delivery of 20 missiles manufactured by Boeing with a load in the form of a CHAMP block was reported. Prototypes from Lockheed Martin will appear later.
Anti-ship LRASM
In 2009, the Pentagon launched the LRASM (Long Range Anti-Ship Missile) program, which aimed to create an anti-ship missile based on the AGM-158B. It was necessary to make various changes in the design, change the composition of the equipment, introduce a number of new functions, and also ensure compatibility with the Mk 41 ship launcher.
The first tests of the systems of the future rocket were carried out in 2012. The first launches from the carrier aircraft and from the Mk 2013 installation took place in 41. In the future, new launches were carried out from different carriers and in different conditions. At the end of 2018, the LRASM missile in aviation performance was accepted for initial operation in the Air Force. In the near future, the Navy will receive its modifications.
For RCCs, AGM-158C developed a new control system based on a multifunctional radar seeker. Search for a target is made in a given area. Possible re-targeting of the rocket during the flight. Various work algorithms and flight modes are provided, providing an effective target search with its subsequent defeat in all expected conditions.
In dimensions and weight, the AGM-158C is close to the base AGM-158B. Flight performance remains at the same level. The customer is offered two versions of the rocket. In the first case, the product is used independently and is intended for suspension on airplanes. For ships with Mk 41 launchers, a rocket with a solid-propellant launch engine is intended.
While the AGM-158C LRASM missiles of two modifications are produced in a small series. In the early twenties, a large order is expected to appear for the full-scale re-equipment of the Air Force and Navy. With the help of new anti-ship missiles LRASM it is proposed to replace several obsolete missiles, including Harpoon products.
Unified family
At the beginning of the last decade, the US Air Force received the latest AGM-158A JASSM air-to-surface cruise missile. Within a few years after this, the development of several of its modifications began, with various differences and characteristic features. According to the results of several such programs, the Pentagon has already managed to obtain several types of aviation and naval weapons, and new models are expected in the future.
Launch AGM-158C by installing Mk 41. Photo Lockheed Martin / lockheedmartin.com
Based on the base JASSM, missiles were created to destroy ground and surface targets with an increased flight range. The appearance of another type of weapon with enhanced flight characteristics and the carrier of electromagnetic weapons is expected. At the same time, the basis of all new products is a missile, adopted by one and a half decades ago. In new projects, a high degree of unification with basic products remains.
Using a similar approach to the creation of new weapons, the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin to a certain extent simplify and accelerate the process of creating new weapons. In addition, it is possible to obtain advantages associated with the unification of weapons of different classes, including for different types of troops.
The base missile AGM-158A JASSM appeared and entered service quite a long time ago. Its last derivatives go to the troops only now, and in parallel, the development of new models. All this clearly shows that the weapons of the AGM-158 family have firmly taken their place in the US arsenals and will not leave them in the foreseeable future. Moreover, in the near future this family is waiting for a new interesting replenishment.
- Ryabov Kirill
- US Air Force
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