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High performance dash-on-warning air mobile missile systemBecause fixed missile bases have become increasingly vulnerable to strategic nuclear attack, an air-mobile missile system is proposed, whereby ICBMs can be launched from the hold of large subsonic aircraft following a missile-assisted supersonic dash of the aircraft to a safe distance from their base (about 50 n mi). Three major categories of vehicle design are presented: staged, which employs vertical take-off and a single solid rocket booster similar to that used on the Space Shuttle; unstaged, which employs vertical take-off and four internally-carried reusable liquid rocket engines; and alternative concepts, some using horizontal take-off with duct-burning afterburners. Attention is given to the economics of maintaining 200 ICBMs airborne during an alert (about $600 million for each fleet alert, exclusive of acquisition costs). The chief advantages of the system lie in its reduced vulnerability to suprise attack, because it can be launched on warning, and in the possibility for recall of the aircraft if the warning proves to be a false alarm.
Document ID
19780062636
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Hague, D. S.
(Astrophysics Research Corp. Bellevue, Wash., United States)
Levin, A. D.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1978
Subject Category
Aircraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
AIAA PAPER 78-1352
Meeting Information
Meeting: Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Start Date: August 7, 1978
End Date: August 9, 1978
Accession Number
78A46545
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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