Warplanes: June 4, 2001

Archives

The US Air Force plans to buy more air-launched cruise missiles to replenish the stockpile expended during the Kosovo War. One option is to build more of the AGM-86C Conventional Air-Launched Cruise Missiles, with a new engine that could increase the range to beyond 2500km and keep the launch aircraft well out of the range of the new Russian-built S300 anti-aircraft missiles. This option would include a new GPS guidance system that is harder to jam. Another option is to buy an extended-range version of the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile. This would use the original seeker and warhead but a new turbofan engine would double the range to 1,000km. This new design could be ready in 36 months, twice as long as a long-range CALCM. This option would be considerably less expensive, costing $55,000 per missile. --Stephen V Cole

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close