Weapons

All Hands, Jan, 2003

STRATEGIC STRIKE

Trident I (C-4)

The Trident I replaced the Poseidon in the Navy's ballistic missile inventory. It became operational in 1979 and is carried on Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines.

Dimensions: 74 x 408 in.

Weight: 73,000 lbs.

Propulsion: Cross-linked, double-base fuel rocket

Range: 4,000 nm

Manufacturer: Lockheed-Martin

Trident II (D-5)

Larger and with longer range than the Trident I, the Trident II was first tested aboard a submarine in March 1989 and deployed in 1990.

Dimensions: 83 x 528 in.

Weight: 130,000 lbs.

Propulsion: Solid-fuel rocket

Range: 4,000 nm

Manufacturer: Lockheed-Martin

GENERAL-PURPOSE BOMBS

The MK-80 series general-purpose bomb family was created in the late 1940s and has been the standard air-launched bomb for the services ever since. The general-purpose bomb family is designed to provide blast and fragmentation effects and is used extensively in a number of configurations including laser-guided bombs (LGBs), joint direct attack munitions (JDAM) and air-delivered mining applications. The unguided versions of the general-purpose bomb can also be delivered in freefall or retarded modes depending upon mission requirements.

There were four basic versions of these bombs in inventory for many years:

* 250 pound MK 81,

* 500 pound MK 82/BLU 111

* 1,000 pound MK 83/BLU 110 and

* 2,000 pound MK 84/BLU 117.

Production of the 250-pound general-purpose bomb has been discontinued and it is no longer carried in the active inventory. The remaining versions of the MK 80 series bombs are being converted from the MK designation to the bomb-loaded unit (BLU) designation during new production. The Navy's MK 80 series bombs remaining in inventory are filled with H-6 high explosive; the newer BLU series bombs incorporate a PBXN-109 explosive that provides less sensitive characteristics and is considered safer to handle and stow.

Laser-Guided Bomb (LGB) Kits

Laser-guided bomb kits were developed to enhance the terminal accuracy of air-launched, general-purpose bombs and entered the fleet's inventory in 1968. An LGB kit consists of a Computer Control Group and Air Foil Group. The kit is normally attached to a general-purpose bomb to form an LGB.

Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Kit

Joint direct attack munitions kits were jointly developed with the U.S. Air Force to provide increased accuracy for air-launched bombs. The JDAM kit consists of a tail kit and mid-body strakes attached to a general purpose or penetrator bomb body. Guidance and control is provided by global positioning system aided inertial navigation system.

Joint Stand-off Weapon (JSOW)

The joint standoff weapon is an air-launched "drop-and-forget" weapon that is capable of approximately 40 nautical mile stand-off ranges. JSOW provides the fleet with a strike interdiction capability against soft targets such as fixed and relocatable air defense elements, parked aircraft command and control facilities, light combat vehicles, industrial elements and enemy troops. Currently, two variants of JSOW are planned: AGM-154A, that uses general-purpose submunitions and JSOW C that employs a unitary type warhead.

HARM (High-Speed Anti-Radar Missile)

HARM is the standard anti-radar missile in the U.S. inventory. It's used as both a strike-protection and anti-ship weapon. First deployed aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) in January 1984, it was used in combat in April 1986 during raids on Libya.

Dimensions: 10 m x 13 ft. 7 in. x 44 in. wingspan

Weight: 798 lbs.

Warhead: 146 lbs.

Range: Depends on launch speed/altitude

Propulsion: Dual-thrust rocket motor (Mach 2+)

Manufacturer: Raytheon

HARPOON/SLAM-ER

The Harpoon and Stand-Off Land Attack Missile - Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missiles are derivatives from the original Harpoon, which was conceived in 1965.

Harpoon

Air, surface-launched, anti-ship, all-weather cruise missile. Originally designed as an air-to-surface missile for the P-3 Orion, the Harpoon, that entered service in 1977, can now be carried by virtually all naval platforms.

Dimensions: 12.6 ft. long - air launched; 15.2 ft. long - surface launched.

Weight: 1,160 lbs. (air launch), 1,459 lbs. (ASROC launcher), 1,520 lbs. (SAM launcher), 1,523 lbs. (capsule/canister launch)

Speed: High subsonic speeds

Warhead: 488.5 lbs. HE (blast; semi-armor piercing)

Propulsion: Turboject (cruise) w/solid-fuel booster for ship launch

Range: 75 nm

Manufacturer: The Boeing Company

Stand-Off Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER)

SLAM-ER is an upgrade to the SLAM and is currently in production. SLAM-ER has a greater range (150+ miles), a titanium warhead for increased penetration and software improvements which allow the pilot to retarget the impact point during the terminal phase of attack. It is also the first land-attack missile equipped with automatic target acquisition for precision targeting.

Maverick

The Maverick is a short-range, air-to-surface, tactical missile. The version used by the Navy carries a warhead designed to penetrate large, hard targets. First deployed in August 1972.

Dimensions: 8.2 ft. long; 12 in. diameter; 2.4 ft. wing span