Peace and Terror
30-08-2004, 06:00
LRM-2 Air-Launched Cruise Missile
The development of the LRM-2 began at the same time as the LRM-1N (see http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=352569). The Air Force high command took one look at that missile’s unusual technology and flight profile and demanded a more conventional fall-back.
The LRM-2 was designed as a brute force solution, combining the largest warhead with the biggest engine that could be fitted within the required size. The dimensions of the LRM-2 are identical to those of the Soviet Kh-22 missile, ensuring that the P&T’s new weapon can be easily carried by the Tu-22M5 that is the mainstay of Maritime Aviation.
Working within the required dimensions, DCA Industries engineers designed the LRM-2 around one thing: a 1400kg high-explosive warhead designed to sink most unarmored warships with a single hit. To propel this warhead, DCA selected a large-scale ramjet. Guidance would be provided by an active radar seeker with a primitive electro-optical backup. An infra-red seeker was tested, but the surface temperature of the missile made it ineffective.
After launch, the LRM-2 flies one of two flight profiles. Normally it descends immediately to wave-top height, flying a sea-skimming profile to the target. Alternatively, it can continue at a cruising altitude for most of the flight, descending only for the last 40 km.
Despite the sea-skimming final attack, early tests showed that the LRM-2 was vulnerable to fleet defenses. Because of this, DCA experimented with mounting flare and chaff launchers within the missile. Decoy-enhanced missiles carried a smaller 1150kg warhead, but were capable of protecting follow-on missiles. Missile-to-missile communications allow a group of decoy-equipped LRM-2s to act as a screen against IR and radar sensors for other missiles. Both the original LRM-2N and the decoy-enhanced LRM-2N1 are entering service with P&T Maritime Aviation.
Unlike the LRM-1, the LRM-2’s design was convertible into a land-attack missile, identified as the LRM-2L. This maintained the option of two flight profiles, but replaced both guidance systems with an inertial/GPS combination, giving a CEP of 24m.
Production is carried out by DCA Industries (http://tncforums.proboards34.com/index.cgi?board=DCA)
Statistics
Length: 11.65m (overall)
Diameter: 0.92m
Wingspan: 3.0m
Weight: 6000kg
Speed: Mach 3
Warhead: 1400kg (LRM-2N and -L), 1150kg (LRM-2N1)
Guidance: Active radar with E/O backup (LRM-2N), GPS/inertial (LRM-2L)
Range: 390km (high) or 180km (low)
CEP: 24m (LRM-2L only)
Price: $2 million per missile ($2.25 for LRM-2N1)
The development of the LRM-2 began at the same time as the LRM-1N (see http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=352569). The Air Force high command took one look at that missile’s unusual technology and flight profile and demanded a more conventional fall-back.
The LRM-2 was designed as a brute force solution, combining the largest warhead with the biggest engine that could be fitted within the required size. The dimensions of the LRM-2 are identical to those of the Soviet Kh-22 missile, ensuring that the P&T’s new weapon can be easily carried by the Tu-22M5 that is the mainstay of Maritime Aviation.
Working within the required dimensions, DCA Industries engineers designed the LRM-2 around one thing: a 1400kg high-explosive warhead designed to sink most unarmored warships with a single hit. To propel this warhead, DCA selected a large-scale ramjet. Guidance would be provided by an active radar seeker with a primitive electro-optical backup. An infra-red seeker was tested, but the surface temperature of the missile made it ineffective.
After launch, the LRM-2 flies one of two flight profiles. Normally it descends immediately to wave-top height, flying a sea-skimming profile to the target. Alternatively, it can continue at a cruising altitude for most of the flight, descending only for the last 40 km.
Despite the sea-skimming final attack, early tests showed that the LRM-2 was vulnerable to fleet defenses. Because of this, DCA experimented with mounting flare and chaff launchers within the missile. Decoy-enhanced missiles carried a smaller 1150kg warhead, but were capable of protecting follow-on missiles. Missile-to-missile communications allow a group of decoy-equipped LRM-2s to act as a screen against IR and radar sensors for other missiles. Both the original LRM-2N and the decoy-enhanced LRM-2N1 are entering service with P&T Maritime Aviation.
Unlike the LRM-1, the LRM-2’s design was convertible into a land-attack missile, identified as the LRM-2L. This maintained the option of two flight profiles, but replaced both guidance systems with an inertial/GPS combination, giving a CEP of 24m.
Production is carried out by DCA Industries (http://tncforums.proboards34.com/index.cgi?board=DCA)
Statistics
Length: 11.65m (overall)
Diameter: 0.92m
Wingspan: 3.0m
Weight: 6000kg
Speed: Mach 3
Warhead: 1400kg (LRM-2N and -L), 1150kg (LRM-2N1)
Guidance: Active radar with E/O backup (LRM-2N), GPS/inertial (LRM-2L)
Range: 390km (high) or 180km (low)
CEP: 24m (LRM-2L only)
Price: $2 million per missile ($2.25 for LRM-2N1)