jeff@aplcomm.jhuapl.edu (JEFF NANIS ) (04/11/91)
From: jeff@aplcomm.jhuapl.edu (JEFF NANIS ) First of all, before I start swinging, I will admit that I was wrong about SLAM; I'd forgotten about cooperative engagements with non- launch a/c guiding it in. Now, on to the important stuff. I'm really happy for everyone out there in speculation.military who has seen photos of A-6Es with a Tomahawk. So have I.I'm sure that B-52s have launched a TLAM or two. BUT, let's get some things straight. The MRASM program (conventional TLAM launched from B-52s) was cancelled in 1984. Any flight tests were just that -- FLIGHT TESTS. I have received mail from people who seem to think that if a missile has ever been launched from an aircraft, "Why then, it must be operational." Wrong. ICBMshave been dropped from cargo aircraft and launched in mid-air, and yet, they arenot part of the SAC arsenal. The same holds true for TLAM. The B-52 can carry 12 external AGM-86 ALCM (Hs carry 8 internal, as well). By operational, what is meant is that there are no B-52 squadrons, who, if war broke out (again) tomorrow, could launch Tomahawks in any but a one-of-a-kind, jury-rigged, kludge. "But what about the A-6s?", I'm sure you're all wondering. Easy. Before any surface- or sub-launched tests were performed, the missile was tested (ooh, that t-word again) being carried by A-6s in captive carries, inert drops, and live launches. Everyone who's seen the picture of the A-6 w/ Tomahawk, think back and try and remember what color it was (the missile) that is. Was it, say, red? Now, try and remember how many missiles you actually saw on the a/c. Was it more than one? Further, I'll bet that the A-6 took off from land. Any brownshoes (naval aviators) out there correct me on this, but I don't think any A-6 driver wants to do a carrier trap with one or two TLAMs slung underneath (they're big: 6.4 m long and heavy: 2600 lbs). It may even have been done, but then again, I know that F-14 drivers don't recover on CV decks with 6 Phoenix hung below, even though they can take off. What I'm driving at again, is that all these were developmental or tests. It may very well be, (I don't know for sure) that the missile is still occasionally launched from aircraft for test purposes, when they don't need to be operationally realistic and they don't want to burn out a VLS cell or ABL. BUT, as with the B-52s, this is not an operational capability. All TLAMs in DS were ship or sub-launched. (All this is, of course, discounting any black programs that may be out there, but then again, the people who are disputing my contention wouldn't be able to talk about it if they knew.) All this sarcasm aside, I think it's a wonderful idea to have an air- launched long-range conventional stand-off weapon (funny, there is a LRCSW program that the USAF is participating in). So do lots of people in the community. Who knows, maybe MRASM has been revived and they're doing more B-52/TLAM tests. But the difference between nice ideas, developmental programs, and tests on the one hand, and a VA squadron operating of a carrier during DS or currently that can say, "Hey, let's use TLAMs against these targets" is a long, long way. There ain't no such animal. Really.