Air-based cruise missile AGM-86B (AGM-86C/D)

AGM-86B cruise missile is designed to engage stationary including highly defended ground targets: ICBM launch pads, command posts, industrial and administrative centers of the enemy. Full-scale development of the long-range air-based cruise missile, designated AGM-86A, under the ALCM ("Air-Launched Cruise Missile") program began in July 1973. In February 1974, Boeing Corporation was selected as the main contractor on the subject. The first launch of AGM-86A took place in March 1976, in September of the same year the rocket with a fully functional control system was launched. In January 1977, it was decided to start full-scale production of AGM-86A missiles.

However, as early as 1977, the JCMP ("Joint Cruise Missile Project") was launched, within the framework of which it was decided to develop an improved long-range air-based missile based on AGM-86A, which was designated AGM-86B. One of the main goals of the JCMP project was also the maximum unification of advanced cruise missiles developed for the U.S. Air Force and Navy. To equip surface ships and nuclear submarines of the U.S. Navy, Raytheon developed the BGM-109A Tomahawk cruise missile. During the implementation of the JCMP program it was decided to equip the BGM-109A and AGM-86B missiles with a single system of trajectory correction on the image of the terrain AN/DPW-23 of McDonnell Douglas Corporation and a unified small-size dual-circuit jet engine F107-WR-100 of Williams. In addition, there was a partial unification of thermonuclear warheads of future CDs - both missiles were equipped with modifications of BC W-80. The first launch of AGM-86B was in August 1979.

In 1979-1980. The U.S. Air Force held a competition, for which two missiles were submitted - AGM-86B of Boeing Corporation and AGM-109 of Raytheon ("air" modification of BGM-109A "Tomahawk"). Despite the fact that the creators of AGM-109 put forward a more advanced concept of placement of missiles on board the B-52G bomber, according to which the aircraft took on board up to 18 CR AGM-109 (12 missiles on two underwings and 6 in the bomb compartment on a multi-position rotating launcher) against 12 CR AGM-86B on two underwings, the victory in the competition was given to the AGM-86B missile corporation "Boeing".

Onboard equipment of strategic bombers B-52G "Stratofortress", which were to become carriers of AGM-86B, was modified under the OAS ("Offensive Avionics System"). Later, B-52H aircraft were also converted to new missiles. In 1981-1990, 195 vehicles were upgraded (99 modifications G and 96 modifications H). For the first time, new missiles were deployed on B-52G 416 heavy bomber wing SAC U.S. Air Force (Griffith Air Force Base, New York), whose aircraft began to carry the combat duty with the KR AGM-86B in December 1982. In 1988-1993, all B-52H bombers received the CSRL ("Common Strategic Rotary Launcher") intra-fuselage multi-position rotating launcher, which allowed to increase the combat force of one aircraft to 20 missiles (it was decided not to convert older B-52Gs). In September 1991, by order of President J. Bush Sr. all strategic bombers (including those equipped with ALCMs) and air tankers that served them were removed from permanent combat duty. Regular flights of bombers with AGM-86B missiles in combat gear were stopped in September 1992. The missiles were taken into active reserve and are listed in the "nuclear stand-off".

AGM-86B missiles were planned to be equipped with supersonic strategic bombers "Rockwell" B-1B "Lancer", which began to be delivered to combat units of the U.S. Air Force SAC in July 1985. All 100 bombers produced were equipped with hanging units and could carry up to 20 AGM-86B (12 on the outer and 8 on the inner suspension). However, the test program, which began in November 1987, for various reasons, was never completed. In 1996, following the acquisition by these aircraft of the capability to use high-precision non-nuclear weapons, the specialized suspension units and equipment intended for nuclear weapons were dismantled and these machines were removed from the so-called "nuclear offsets".

A total of 1,715 AGM-86B missiles were fired and their mass production was discontinued in October 1986. In June of the same year Boeing Corporation started research under the CALCM ("Conventional ALCM") program, aimed at creating an ALCM with non-nuclear propellant. The new modification was designated AGM-86C (CALCM Block 0). In order to save money, it was decided to retrofit some of the existing AGM-86B missiles. When replacing the thermonuclear BC with a shrapnel-phase missile mass has increased markedly, which caused a significant reduction in flight range. The main difference between AGM-86C and its predecessor was the control system - the trajectory correction system for the AN/DPW-23 terrain image was removed and instead of it the GPS satellite navigation system was installed, which significantly increased accuracy.

The AGM-86C reached combat readiness in January 1991, which allowed the U.S. Air Force to use it in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. The missiles, the official existence of which was discovered only in 1992, were developed under the Senior Surprise program. The operation to use the missiles was called "Secret Squirrel". Seven strategic bombers B-52G Stratofortress from the 2nd heavy bomber wing (Airbase Barksdale, Louisiana) took off with a partial load (on board there were 39 SLCMs with a potential to place 84 missiles). Thirty-five of the 39 missiles were successfully fired at targets in Iraq, after which the aircraft returned to the base. The flight was non-landing, with numerous refuelings in the air.

In 1996, a new modification of AGM-86C missile was adopted for service, which received the designation CALCM Block I. The missile received a heavier and heavier shrapnel-phase BC and an improved control system - the satellite navigation system receiver became multichannel. All previously launched Block 0 missiles have been upgraded to Block I. CALCM Block I missiles were widely used during the NATO military aggression against Yugoslavia.

In 1998, the development of another modification of CALCM - Block IA began. In January 2001, the new missile went into service. The missile has an improved receiver satellite navigation system, which provided better accuracy and resistance to interference, in the memory of the BCVM can store multiple routes to the approach of the ALCM to the target, which improves the effectiveness of the missile when flying over desert or sharply rough terrain. All CALCM missiles have been converted from previously launched AGM-86B missiles. CALCM missiles launched before 2001 received Block IA level onboard electronics without changing the designation already available. The new missiles were used during operations against Afghanistan and Iraq.

The last modification of the CALCM version to date is AGM-86D (CALCM Block II), which made its first flight in November 2001. CALCM Block II is equipped with a penetrating AUP ("Advanced Unitary Penetrator") designed by Lockheed Martin and is designed to destroy deepened and fortified targets.

The only carrier of all available modifications of the CALCM ALCM (as well as AGM-86B) - strategic bomber Boeing B-52H, it is planned to remain in service with the U.S. Air Force until 2030.