SRAM
Missile · USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Credit: via Andreas Parsch
Boeing Short Range Attack Missile, an air-launched nuclear-armed solid-propellant stand-off weapon to allow B-52 and FB-111 bombers to penetrate Soviet air space. In service 1972-1990. Retired after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
After cancellation of the Skybolt in 1962, the Air Force still had a need for a stand-off missile for its B-52 strategic bombers. It was not believed the subsonic bomber with its high radar signature could penetrate Soviet Air defenses without such a weapon. Only two of the large interim Hound Dog weapon could be carried per B-52, not enough to get the bomber through. In March 1964, SOR-212 was issued defining a requirement for a short-range attack missile, and development was approved in March 1965 for development of WS-140A. Boeing received the development contract in October 1966. First powered flight was in July 1969, and in August 1972 SRAM began replacing the Hound Dog on B-52s. Production was completed in 1975. Problems with the storage life of the missile's solid rocket motor remained a concern throughout its life. With the end of the Cold War, SRAM was retired in June 1990, and the replacement SRAM II was cancelled a year later without reaching production.
SRAM, like the cancelled Skybolt, was a two-stage, solid propellant, air-to-surface ballistic missile. Armed with a 200 kT W-69 thermonuclear warhead, the missile was much smaller than Skybolt and had only one tenth the range. The first stage accelerated the missile to Mach 3, after which it coasted until approaching the target. Then the second stage would ignite, accelerating the missile until the nuclear warhead was detonated over the target. Various profiles could be flown depending on the air defenses to penetrated, so the range would be anything from 55 km (35 miles) for low-altitude profiles to 160 km (100 miles) for high-altitude profiles. Inertial guidance made the missile autonomous, and a radar altimeter allowed the missile to fly nap-of-the-earth profiles under Soviet radar. A B-52 normally carried 8 SRAMs on a rotary launcher in the bomb bay, but up to 12 more could be fitted on two external 6-missile pylons. The FB-111A medium bomber carried up to 6 SRAMs.
Development Cost $: 450.600 million. Recurring Price $: 0.466 million in 1974 dollars. Flyaway Unit Cost 1985$: 0.267 million in 1974 dollars. Maximum range: 190 km (110 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 1. Standard warhead: W69. Warhead yield: 170 KT. Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Maximum speed: 3,710 kph (2,300 mph). Initial Operational Capability: 1972. Total Number Built: 1541. Total Development Built: 41. Total Production Built: 1500.
More at: SRAM.
Subtopics
SRAM-2 American Short Range Attack Missile, an air-launched nuclear-armed solid-propellant stand-off weapon to replace the SRAM. Mission was to allow B-52 and B-1 bombers to penetrate Soviet air space. Cancelled in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union without going into service.
ASAT American anti-satellite missile. The ASAT air-launched anti-satellite missile was developed by Vought in response to a 1977 Air Force requirement for a missile that could be launched from an F-15A fighter yet was capable of intercepting and destroying enemy satellites in low earth orbit. Four of five tests were successful before the program was cancelled in 1988.
Related
- Family
- aircraft-launched, air-to-surface
- Country
- USA
- Engines
- SR75
- Launch Sites
- Grand Turk Island DZ
- Stages
- LPC-415
- Agency
- Boeing
Photo Gallery
SRAM-2
Credit: via Andreas Parsch
Chronology
38 events
1969 July 29
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1974 August 20
11:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM. FAILURE: Failure.1975 March 25
12:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1975 April 21
12:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: FB-111. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1975 May 12
11:24 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1975 May 12
11:54 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1975 May 23
11:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: FB-111. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1975 May 23
11:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: FB-111. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1975 November 13
13:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1975 November 14
12:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1975 November 24
13:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1976 April 14
12:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: FB-111. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1976 April 14
12:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: FB-111. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1976 December 14
12:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Plattsburgh AFB. Launch Platform: FB-111. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1976 December 14
12:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Plattsburgh AFB. Launch Platform: FB-111. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1977 April 14
11:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Ellsworth AFB. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1977 December 14
12:54 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Barksdale AFB. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1978 March 1
12:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Robins AFB. Launch Platform: B-52G. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1978 July 20
11:49 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Grand Forks AFB. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1978 December 13
11:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Wurt AFB. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1979 January 17
Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: FB-111. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1979 January 19
Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: FB-111. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1979 January 19
Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: FB-111. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1979 February 7
Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1979 May 31
- Instrumented Test Vehicle to be used in testing anti-satellite weapons. - . Spacecraft Bus: SRAM. Spacecraft: ASAT. Avco received a contract for an Instrumented Test Vehicle (ITV) that would be used in testing anti-satellite weapons. The basic contract was valued at $15.162 million..
1979 November 28
Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1979 December 12
Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: FB-111. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1979 December 12
Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: FB-111. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1980 February 6
Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1980 November 5
Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: FB-111. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1981 December 9
Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: FB-111. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1983 June 22
Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1983 July 26
Launch Site: Grand Turk Island. Launch Complex: Grand Turk Island DZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Cape Canaveral. Launch Platform: B-52. Launch Vehicle: SRAM.1984 January 21
18:52 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Western Test Range DZ. Launch Pad: 35.0 N x 120.0 W. Launch Platform: F-15. LV Family: SRAM. Launch Vehicle: ASAT.- ASAT Test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Successful test of the missile and control system, but conducted without the miniature homing vehicle..
1984 November 13
Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Western Test Range DZ. Launch Pad: 35.0 N x 120.0 W. Launch Platform: F-15. LV Family: SRAM. Launch Vehicle: ASAT.- ASAT Test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Failed test; minitaure homing vehicle was to home on a selected star..
1985 September 13
Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Western Test Range DZ. Launch Pad: 35.0 N x 120.0 W. Launch Platform: F-15. LV Family: SRAM. Launch Vehicle: ASAT.- First US ASAT intercept - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft: Solwind. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). Successful ASAT intercept test; rammed and destroyed the Solwind P78-1 satellite..
1986 August 22
Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Western Test Range DZ. Launch Pad: 35.0 N x 120.0 W. Launch Platform: F-15. LV Family: SRAM. Launch Vehicle: ASAT.- ASAT Test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Successful test; minitaure homing vehicle homed on the selected star..