ALCM Sustainment

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 is to ensure ALCM sustainability through 2030 in support of Air Force strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike mission requirements. An ALCM Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) was developed to support ALCM Service Life through 2030. 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. Development funds are required to add capabilities to assist in identifying candidate components for future SLEP efforts. The Aging and Surveillance program for ALCM continuously assesses critical components and subsystems. 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. FY16 funding will allow for the development of test capabilities for additional ALCM components. As part of the build phase of the sustaining engineering approach, the program has developed a plan for ALCM sustainment using a computer-aided decision making process called the ALCM Sustainment Enhancement Toolbox (ASET). The first phase of ASET is the ALCM Report Recommendation Tool (ARRT) that will develop the software tools to sustain ALCM to 2030. Funds will also be used to develop test procedures to implement the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS)-directed requirements for Electromagnetic (EM) survivability testing including, but not limited to, High-altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP), Hazards of EM Radiation to Ordnance (HERO) and High-Powered Microwave (HPM) testing for nuclear systems. 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: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2016
• Source ID: 674797_0101122F_7_3600_PB_2016

Tags

Readers

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

Technology Areas

• Directed Energy