AIR LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILE

Abstract

The AGM-86B, Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM), is a subsonic, air-to-surface strategic nuclear missile, operational since 1982. Armed with a W80 warhead, it is designed to evade air and ground-based defenses in order to strike targets at any location within any enemy's territory. The ALCM is designed for B-52H internal and external carriage. The purpose of this program element is to ensure ALCM sustainability to FY30 and identify concepts and materiel solutions to replace the aging ALCM fleet in support of Air Force strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike mission requirements. An ALCM Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) was developed to meet an AF Long Range Plan requirement to extend ALCM Service Life to FY30. The results of SLEP studies identified system components and support equipment that will become non-supportable prior to 2030. Service life extension of this critical weapon is essential to meet United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) deliberate planning commitments. W80 Joint Test Assembly (JTA-8) Replacement was an effort to improve the unsupportable W80 JTA-1, a simulated warhead used for flight testing. This replacement effort revised and improved the W80 JTA-1, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), provided integration support, and supported flight test qualification. In FY09, the Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) effort completed. Minimal effort remains through FY11 for finalizing and completing archival of all data. The Aging and Surveillance program for ALCM continously assesses critical components such as those in the safe arm and fuze subsystem, navigation/guidance system, and electrical/power distribution system. The program identifies aging trends prior to failures in fielded components that would result in fleet-wide reliability and supportability problems. Development funds are required to update software, test procedures, and test equipment from the original Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM) configurations to the new ALCM configurations. Development of new support equipment is also required for the Ageing & Surveillance program. Long Range Stand Off (LRSO) seeks to identify viable concepts and materiel solutions to replace the legacy Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) fleet in support of Air Force’s strategic deterrence and global strike mission requirements. Funding and program content for this effort moves into PE 010125F Nuclear Weapons Modernization in FY12. BA7- This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2012
• Source ID: 0101122F_7_3600_PB_2012
• Change Summary Explanation: The LRSO program moves to PE 0101125F beginning in FY12. FY12 funding increase supports continuation of the ALCM Aging & Surveillance program.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Air Force
• Air Launched
• Cost Analysis
• Cruise Missiles
• Flight Testing
• Ground Based
• Power Distribution
• Production
• Prompt Global Strike
• Qualifications
• Reliability
• Standoff Missiles
• Surveillance
• Test And Evaluation
• Test Equipment
• United States
• United States Strategic Command

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering
• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
• Missile Defense Systems.