wilson@b11.ingr.com (Jon Wilson) (07/24/90)
From: wilson@b11.ingr.com (Jon Wilson) Does anyone know the status of the RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) program? This was a joint U.S./F.R.G./Danish project to develop a point-defense missile based on the Sidewinder airframe. It was apparently not to be fin-stabilized (thus the acronym), and was to complement the Phalanx for anti-missile defense. Thanks Jon Wilson Intergraph Corporation ingr!b11!wilson@uunet.uu.net
gwh%monsoon.Berkeley.EDU@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (George William Herbert) (07/25/90)
From: gwh%monsoon.Berkeley.EDU@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (George William Herbert) RAM is in low-rate production. It's begun operational deployment. It looks like a good system, the tests seem to have gone fine. == George William Herbert == ******************************************* == JOAT for Hire: Anything, == * Warning: This Person Contains Chemicals * =======Anywhere, My Price======= * Which are Known to Cause Cancer, Birth * == gwh@ocf.berkeley.edu == ******** Defects, and Brain Damage! ******* == ucbvax!ocf!gwh == The OCF Gang: Making Tomorrow's Mistakes Today
tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (Random Dude)) (07/26/90)
From: tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (Random Dude)) In article <1990Jul23.202715.6737@cbnews.att.com> wilson@b11.ingr.com (Jon Wilson) writes: > >Does anyone know the status of the RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) >program? This was a joint U.S./F.R.G./Danish project to develop a >point-defense missile based on the Sidewinder airframe. It was >apparently not to be fin-stabilized (thus the acronym), and was to >complement the Phalanx for anti-missile defense. > Much of the following information comes from these sources: World_Naval_Weapon_Systems by Norman Friedman (Naval Institute Press) "US Naval Aircraft and Weapon Developments in 1989" by Floyd Kennedy in May 1989 issue of USNI Proceedings RIM-116A Dimensions: 5" x 111" Propulsion: solid-fuel rocket Weight: 162 lbs. Speed: Mach 2+ Warhead: 5 lbs. Range: 5 nm The RIM-116A was developed by US (General Dynamics), FRG (RAM GmBH) and Denmark (Per Udsen). The Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) uses the Sidewinder motor, warhead and fuze and the Stinger IF seeker. It has a new RF seeker with two antenae mounted on either side of the front of the missile. As the acronymn implies, it is stabilized in flight by spinning. The four tail fins are canted to spin the missile. The forward two fins are used for control. The RAM flies homes initially on the incoming missile's RF emmisions produced from its homing radar. The two antenae arrangement uses inferometry methods. When it gets close enough it shifts to IR. This type of guidance does not require a director and thus is "fire and forget". There are three different RAM launchers. The EX-31 launcher (total weight: 13,529 lbs.) has 21 missiles in it and has the same base and turning mass as the Phalanx. The second is a modified NATO Sea Sparrow launcher. Two of the Sea Sparrow cells are replaced by special cells each holding five missiles. Finally, there is lightweight two arm launcher called the RAM Alternate Launching system (RALS) (total weight: 7200 lbs.). It has a total of 10 missiles. The US plans to use the EX-31 in 2 LCCs, 5 LHAs, 7 LPHs. The Sea Sparrow launchers on carriers, LHDs, AORs and the Spruance class ships will be modified to take the RAM. There is a proposal for the Danish navy to use the RALS on the Standard Flex-300 and Niels Huel class ships. Some drawings of planned Japanese frigates also show the RAM. The RAM has been delayed about 5 years due to cost and test problems. On 30 March 1987, US Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger finally certified that the missile had passed all tests and would enter production. At the time in FY86, the first 500 missiles would cost $145,000 each. The remaining 4500 planned missiles were predicted to cost an average of $100,000. In August 1987, a Memorandum of Understading was signed between the US and FRG. It was agreed that General Dynamics and RAM GmBH would compete for upto 70 percent of the annual combined purchase of the US and FRG. At that time, the US planned to buy 30 launchers and the FRG 58 launchers for a total of 1923 missiles. The US authorized low level production in FY86 (117 missiles), FY88 (240 missiles) and FY89 (260 missiles). In FY90, 520 missiles were authorized at a total cost of $86.9 M. The FY91 budget request included 405 RAMs at a total cost of $70.4 M. On 6 June 1989, the US awarded a low level production contract to General Dynamics for 400 US missiles. On 1 October 1989, the FRG awarded a similar contract to RAM GmBH for 350 missiles. In Decemeber 1989, the technical evaluation was complete. In January 1990, the operational evaluation started. Full production authorization is expected in August 1990. First full production deliveries are scheduled for September 1991. Ted Kim UCLA Computer Science Department Internet: tek@penzance.cs.ucla.edu 3804C Boelter Hall UUCP: ...!{uunet|ucbvax}!cs.ucla.edu!tek Los Angeles, CA 90024 Phone: (213) 206-8696