AGM-131 SRAM II
| AGM-131 SRAM II | |
|---|---|
|
Casing of a AGM-131 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force | |
| Type | Nuclear air-to-surface missile |
| Place of origin | U.S. |
| Service history | |
| In service | Never used |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Hercules |
| Designed | 1986 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 900 kg (2,000 lb) |
| Length | 3,180 cm (1,250 in) |
| length | 123 cm (48 in) |
| Diameter | 39cm |
|
| |
| Propellant | Solid-fueled rocket |
Launch platform | Air |
The SRAM II (Short-Range Attack Missile) was a nuclear air-to-surface missile intended as a replacement for the AGM-69 SRAM, but it was cancelled by President George H.W. Bush for geopolitical reasons just as the first flight-test missile was delivered.
The mission of the SRAM family is to deliver the warhead to the target without the need for the penetrating bomber to directly overfly the target. The SRAM family of weapons had an extremely small radar signature and were near-impossible to counter. SRAM ensured the airborne leg of the US nuclear triad (the others being land-based ICBMs and SLBM) and was the penetrating airlaunched strategic nuclear weapon for the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit.
In 1977, the USAF planned to develop an upgrade of the SRAM for the forthcoming B-1A bomber as AGM-69B SRAM B. When the B-1A was cancelled in 1978, the AGM-69B was dropped, too. After the resurrection of the B-1 program (as B-1B) in 1981, it was decided to develop an entirely new weapon, the SRAM II.
In 1986, Boeing was finally awarded a development contract for the AGM-131A SRAM II. The AGM-131A was planned to have only about 2/3 the size of an AGM-69A, so that 36 missiles could be carried by the B-1B, as compared to 24 AGM-69As. The final design of the SRAM II ended up with the "II" version roughly equal to the "A" version in size and about 80% of the weight. One new feature of SRAM II was a lighter, simpler, and more reliable two-pulse solid rocket motor designed by Hercules for increased range and age stability.
The SRAM II was slated to use the newly developed W89 thermonuclear warhead, which being much newer, was also much safer to operate than the W-69 of the AGM-69. The W89 had a 200 kiloton design yield,
Initial Operational Capability for the AGM-131A was planned for 1993, but before flight tests could take place, the program was cancelled in 1991.
SRAM-T
The SRAM II air vehicle was also the basis for a tactical nuclear variant - the SRAM T which employed a different warhead, the W91 thermonuclear warhead and was to be carried by the F-15E.
Cancellation
Both SRAM II and SRAM T were cancelled in September 1991 by President George H.W. Bush, along with the W89 and W91 warheads.
Stated reasons were political (nuclear arms reduction in the face of a disintegrating Soviet Union) and technical difficulties with the rocket motor. The rocket motor was a solid fueled type. It was to have a throttle on it to adjust its thrust. Blew up on the test stand. At the time, test pilots refused to carry it internally for safety reasons. Additionally, flight test parameters were not forthcoming from the manufacturer. No flight test parameters, no description of parameter data stream itself, no ability to gather flight test data.
Specification
- Length: 3.18 meters
- Diameter: 39 centimeters
- Weight: 900 kilograms
- Speed: Mach 2
- Range: 400 kilometers
- Propulsion: Solid-fuel rocket
- Warhead: W-89