Country: United States of America
Missile Type: Air to air missile
Service Type: Yes
Washington DC (Washington Insider Magazine) — The AGM-86 ALCM is an American missile. It is a subsonic air-launched cruise missile and is popularly known as ALCM. The missile was built by Boeing and was first operated by the United States Air Force. This development of the missile aimed to increase the effectiveness of the Boeing B-52H Strat fortress strategic bomber. The missile will dilute the enemy’s forces and has made a big name in the air defense of its territory.
Specifications
- The AGM-86 can measure 6.32 m in length
- It is 0.693 m in body diameter
- 3.65 m in wingspan
- AGM 86 weighs 458 kg in launch weight
- The missile can carry a 200 kT W80-1 nuclear warhead
- It covers a distance of approximately 2,500 km.
Recent Use in Battlefield
The AGM-86 became operational in January 1991. It was used at the onset of Operation Desert Storm. The Seven B-52Gs from Barksdale was launched along with AFB launched 35 missiles. This missile was designated at various launch points in the U.S. Central Command’s area. There was a lot of responsibility for this particular missile.
The attack’s high-priority targets in Iraq were set out the moment it started operating. These “round-robin” missions will mark the beginning of the operation’s Air Force component. It is the longest-known aircraft that offers combat sorties in history. The missile covers an estimated distance of around 14,000 miles (23,000 km) and 35 hours of flight.
AGM-86 next employment occurred in September 1996. This Operation Desert Strike was done in response to Iraq’s continued hostilities. These operations were targeted when the Kurds in northern Iraq started operating. The Air Force launched 13 during the joint attack with the Navy. This mission lead to an improved version of the program. It came into the spotlight for future modifications.
Operation Desert Strike was also after the combat debut was made. The B-52H and the carriage of the weapons were carried out after the bay-mounted Common Strategic Rotary Launcher was introduced. During Operation Desert Storm, the AGM-86 was carried on the B-52G. Some wing-mounted pylons were attached to the missile.
The AGM-86 was also used in Operation Desert Fox in 1998. It worked as an Operation Allied Force in 1999 and was also used heavily within Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. This missile played an important role during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
It also made the combat debut of the AGM-86D. This missile went further into the development process of this missile. It later replaced the blast/fragmentation and went on to work at the warhead of the AGM-86C. This penetrating warhead was used to hit the target during various wars in Iraq.
Buyers
The AGM-86C was used extensively in combat. Gulf was the first country to buy the 35 missiles. These missiles were fired in the 1991 Gulf War. It was later used in 1996 against Iraq by Gulf. In 1999 the missile was purchased by Serbia and Kosovo. These countries used the missile in 2003 against Iraq. The exact number of conventional AGM-86 missiles were operated in the U.S. arsenal. The use of the missile in the last two decades was unclear. This missile was used without any replacement as the stockpile of the missile is quite low in numbers.
FAQS
1. What Is An AGM-86 Missile?
The AGM-86B air-launched cruise missile is an air-to-air missile. The AGM-86C/D conventional air-was was developed to improve the effectiveness of B-52H bombers.
2. How Much Does An AGM-86 Cost?
The Unit cost around $1 million (AGM-86B). The additional $160,000 conversion cost for the AGM-86C is $896,000. The cost of the missile varies and can be different from model to model
3. How Many ALCM Can A b52 carry?
B-52s carried 20 AGM-86Bs. It permits the bomber force to saturate defenses. This missile launches in large numbers and can be hard to detect on radar.
4. What is ALCM Qualification?
AGM-86 works at an RFQ Level 5. FLCM: RFQ Level 7. This missile is equivalent to the standard version of the Master’s module.
5. Who Built AGM-86 Missile?
The AGM-86 is an American subsonic air-launched cruise missile. It was built by Boeing and operated by the United States Air Force.
Read More: AGM-84 Harpoon: Specifications, Buyers & Recent Use In Battlefield
6. How Is AGM 86 C Different From AGM 86 B?
The AGM-86C CALCM is different from AGM-86B. The 86 C is different because it can carry on the conventional blast. The frag payload of the nuclear payload is also the major difference between the two missiles.