1. Military Aircraft Systems
Uncontrolled copy not subject to amendment
Military Aircraft Systems
Air-to-surface Ordnance
Lesson 3
305. Revision.
Guided vs unguided weapons
Engine types
Warhead types
307. Introduction. Since the first days of military aviation, aircraft have been used to attack targets on the ground or at sea. As technology has improved and aircraft have got larger, weapons have become more powerful and accurate. This lesson will cover the air-launched bombs, rockets and missiles currently in British service.
Slide 1
Revision 1.01 1

2. Objectives
Explain:
Advantages and disadvantages of missiles, bombs and rockets
The history of air-to-surface and surface-to-surface weapons
The main roles for air-to-surface missiles
Explain the type of damage required to disable target types
Details of the main missiles, bombs and rockets launched from aircraft in British service
306. Objectives. Explain:
Advantages and disadvantages of missiles, bombs and rockets.
The history of air-to-surface and surface-to-surface weapons
The main roles for air-to-surface missiles:
Explain the type of damage required to disable target types
Details of the main missiles, bombs and rockets launched from aircraft in British service.

3. Powered vs Unpowered Powered Unpowered (bombs)
Engage scattered targets
Stay out of range of defences
Extra kinetic energy for destructive effect (especially at low level or low launch speed)
Cheaper
Lighter – more can be carried on an aircraft
308. Advantages and disadvantages. In addition to the previously discussed differences between guided and unguided weapons, there are advantages and disadvantages of powered munitions (missiles and rockets) and bombs.
Powered weapons' main advantages are that they don't need to overfly the target – this is useful for three reasons:
In the case of engaging multiple targets, range allows scattered targets to be engaged more quickly.
Longer range may enable the launch aircraft to stay out of range of the target's defences
In the case of low- and slow-flying aircraft a bomb would not have sufficient kinetic energy to use KE for destructive effect
Bombs have an advantage in not needing the extra weight and complexity of an engine – this means that they are cheaper and a greater number can be carried on an aircraft.

4. History
World War II
V1 and V2 developed as ‘stand-off’ weapons. Inertially guided, V1 was a cruise missile and V2 a ballistic missile
309. History.
a. World War II.
V1 and V2. The V weapons were developed as a means of striking strategic targets without exposing bombers to anti-aircraft fire. Both were inertially-guided; the V1 was a basic cruise missile powered by a pulse jet and the V2 was a liquid-fuelled ballistic missile. Whilst the V-series were primarily surface-to- surface weapons, the V-1 could be air-launched.
Fritz X. Fritz X was designed as a means of attacking shipping – hitting a moving target with a bomb was very difficult without guidance. It was a gliding bomb with a radio-controlled MCLOS guidance system.

5. V-1 Early German cruise missile 309. History. a. World War II.
V1 and V2. The V weapons were developed as a means of striking strategic targets without exposing bombers to anti-aircraft fire. Both were inertially-guided; the V1 was a basic cruise missile powered by a pulse jet and the V2 was a liquid-fuelled ballistic missile. Whilst the V-series were primarily surface-to- surface weapons, the V-1 could be air-launched.
Fritz X. Fritz X was designed as a means of attacking shipping – hitting a moving target with a bomb was very difficult without guidance. It was a gliding bomb with a radio-controlled MCLOS guidance system.
V-1
Early German cruise missile

6. V-2 Early German ballistic missile 309. History. a. World War II.
V1 and V2. The V weapons were developed as a means of striking strategic targets without exposing bombers to anti-aircraft fire. Both were inertially-guided; the V1 was a basic cruise missile powered by a pulse jet and the V2 was a liquid-fuelled ballistic missile. Whilst the V-series were primarily surface-to- surface weapons, the V-1 could be air-launched.
Fritz X. Fritz X was designed as a means of attacking shipping – hitting a moving target with a bomb was very difficult without guidance. It was a gliding bomb with a radio-controlled MCLOS guidance system.
V-2
Early German ballistic missile

7. History
World War II
V1 and V2 developed as ‘stand-off’ weapons. Inertially guided, V1 was a cruise missile and V2 a ballistic missile
Fritz X was a guided anti-ship bomb – hitting a moving ship was very difficult in WWII without risky dive-bombing.
309. History.
a. World War II.
V1 and V2. The V weapons were developed as a means of striking strategic targets without exposing bombers to anti-aircraft fire. Both were inertially-guided; the V1 was a basic cruise missile powered by a pulse jet and the V2 was a liquid-fuelled ballistic missile. Whilst the V-series were primarily surface-to- surface weapons, the V-1 could be air-launched.
Fritz X. Fritz X was designed as a means of attacking shipping – hitting a moving target with a bomb was very difficult without guidance. It was a gliding bomb with a radio-controlled MCLOS guidance system.

8. Fritz-X Early German guided bomb 309. History. a. World War II.
V1 and V2. The V weapons were developed as a means of striking strategic targets without exposing bombers to anti-aircraft fire. Both were inertially-guided; the V1 was a basic cruise missile powered by a pulse jet and the V2 was a liquid-fuelled ballistic missile. Whilst the V-series were primarily surface-to- surface weapons, the V-1 could be air-launched.
Fritz X. Fritz X was designed as a means of attacking shipping – hitting a moving target with a bomb was very difficult without guidance. It was a gliding bomb with a radio-controlled MCLOS guidance system.
Fritz-X
Early German guided bomb

9. History
Cold War
Stand-off weapons allowed nuclear attack of heavily-defended targets, such as Hound Dog and Blue Steel.
309. History.
b. Cold war.
Land-attack missiles. During the early Cold War nuclear deterrent was primarily provided by air-dropped bombs. Because high-value targets tend to be well-defended, there was a need to create 'stand-off' weapons to launch outside of enemy air defences which lead to supersonic nuclear cruise missiles like the American AGM-28 Hound Dog and the British Blue Steel.
Anti-ship missiles. With NATO's superiority at sea, the Warsaw Pact needed a means to attack NATO shipping. The Styx cruise missile (and its Chinese copy Silkworm) were large radar-guided missiles, first used by Egypt against Israel. As technology improved, missiles could be made smaller and launched from aircraft as well as ships and submarines.
Paveway. Engaged in a conventional war in Vietnam, the US Air Force needed a more accurate weapon to engage point targets and so developed the Paveway series of laser-guided bombs. Its first deployment was against the Thanh Hoa Bridge which had previously been attacked 800 times – it was damaged on the first attack with Paveway.

10. AGM-28 Hound Dog US Air-launched cruise missile 309. History.
b. Cold war.
Land-attack missiles. During the early Cold War nuclear deterrent was primarily provided by air-dropped bombs. Because high-value targets tend to be well-defended, there was a need to create 'stand-off' weapons to launch outside of enemy air defences which lead to supersonic nuclear cruise missiles like the American AGM-28 Hound Dog and the British Blue Steel.
Anti-ship missiles. With NATO's superiority at sea, the Warsaw Pact needed a means to attack NATO shipping. The Styx cruise missile (and its Chinese copy Silkworm) were large radar-guided missiles, first used by Egypt against Israel. As technology improved, missiles could be made smaller and launched from aircraft as well as ships and submarines.
Paveway. Engaged in a conventional war in Vietnam, the US Air Force needed a more accurate weapon to engage point targets and so developed the Paveway series of laser-guided bombs. Its first deployment was against the Thanh Hoa Bridge which had previously been attacked 800 times – it was damaged on the first attack with Paveway.
AGM-28 Hound Dog
US Air-launched cruise missile

11. Blue Steel British Air-launched cruise missile 309. History.
b. Cold war.
Land-attack missiles. During the early Cold War nuclear deterrent was primarily provided by air-dropped bombs. Because high-value targets tend to be well-defended, there was a need to create 'stand-off' weapons to launch outside of enemy air defences which lead to supersonic nuclear cruise missiles like the American AGM-28 Hound Dog and the British Blue Steel.
Anti-ship missiles. With NATO's superiority at sea, the Warsaw Pact needed a means to attack NATO shipping. The Styx cruise missile (and its Chinese copy Silkworm) were large radar-guided missiles, first used by Egypt against Israel. As technology improved, missiles could be made smaller and launched from aircraft as well as ships and submarines.
Paveway. Engaged in a conventional war in Vietnam, the US Air Force needed a more accurate weapon to engage point targets and so developed the Paveway series of laser-guided bombs. Its first deployment was against the Thanh Hoa Bridge which had previously been attacked 800 times – it was damaged on the first attack with Paveway.
Blue Steel
British Air-launched cruise missile

12. History
Cold War
Stand-off weapons allowed nuclear attack of heavily-defended targets, such as Hound Dog and Blue Steel.
Anti-ship weapons were developed by the USSR to counter NATO’s superiority at sea, such as the Styx. Soon, weapons were small enough for air launch, such as the Exocet.
309. History.
b. Cold war.
Land-attack missiles. During the early Cold War nuclear deterrent was primarily provided by air-dropped bombs. Because high-value targets tend to be well-defended, there was a need to create 'stand-off' weapons to launch outside of enemy air defences which lead to supersonic nuclear cruise missiles like the American AGM-28 Hound Dog and the British Blue Steel.
Anti-ship missiles. With NATO's superiority at sea, the Warsaw Pact needed a means to attack NATO shipping. The Styx cruise missile (and its Chinese copy Silkworm) were large radar-guided missiles, first used by Egypt against Israel. As technology improved, missiles could be made smaller and launched from aircraft as well as ships and submarines.
Paveway. Engaged in a conventional war in Vietnam, the US Air Force needed a more accurate weapon to engage point targets and so developed the Paveway series of laser-guided bombs. Its first deployment was against the Thanh Hoa Bridge which had previously been attacked 800 times – it was damaged on the first attack with Paveway.

13. SS-N-1 Styx Soviet anti-ship missile 309. History. b. Cold war.
Land-attack missiles. During the early Cold War nuclear deterrent was primarily provided by air-dropped bombs. Because high-value targets tend to be well-defended, there was a need to create 'stand-off' weapons to launch outside of enemy air defences which lead to supersonic nuclear cruise missiles like the American AGM-28 Hound Dog and the British Blue Steel.
Anti-ship missiles. With NATO's superiority at sea, the Warsaw Pact needed a means to attack NATO shipping. The Styx cruise missile (and its Chinese copy Silkworm) were large radar-guided missiles, first used by Egypt against Israel. As technology improved, missiles could be made smaller and launched from aircraft as well as ships and submarines.
Paveway. Engaged in a conventional war in Vietnam, the US Air Force needed a more accurate weapon to engage point targets and so developed the Paveway series of laser-guided bombs. Its first deployment was against the Thanh Hoa Bridge which had previously been attacked 800 times – it was damaged on the first attack with Paveway.
SS-N-1 Styx
Soviet anti-ship missile

14. History
Cold War
Stand-off weapons allowed nuclear attack of heavily-defended targets, such as Hound Dog and Blue Steel.
Anti-ship weapons were developed by the USSR to counter NATO’s superiority at sea, such as the Styx. Soon, weapons were small enough for air launch, such as the Exocet.
Paveway guided bombs grew from a USAF need to engage point targets accurately in Vietnam – against the Thanh Hoa bridge one Paveway did what 800 dumb bombs couldn’t.
309. History.
b. Cold war.
Land-attack missiles. During the early Cold War nuclear deterrent was primarily provided by air-dropped bombs. Because high-value targets tend to be well-defended, there was a need to create 'stand-off' weapons to launch outside of enemy air defences which lead to supersonic nuclear cruise missiles like the American AGM-28 Hound Dog and the British Blue Steel.
Anti-ship missiles. With NATO's superiority at sea, the Warsaw Pact needed a means to attack NATO shipping. The Styx cruise missile (and its Chinese copy Silkworm) were large radar-guided missiles, first used by Egypt against Israel. As technology improved, missiles could be made smaller and launched from aircraft as well as ships and submarines.
Paveway. Engaged in a conventional war in Vietnam, the US Air Force needed a more accurate weapon to engage point targets and so developed the Paveway series of laser-guided bombs. Its first deployment was against the Thanh Hoa Bridge which had previously been attacked 800 times – it was damaged on the first attack with Paveway.

15. GBU-11/B Paveway 1 American guided bomb 309. History. b. Cold war.
Land-attack missiles. During the early Cold War nuclear deterrent was primarily provided by air-dropped bombs. Because high-value targets tend to be well-defended, there was a need to create 'stand-off' weapons to launch outside of enemy air defences which lead to supersonic nuclear cruise missiles like the American AGM-28 Hound Dog and the British Blue Steel.
Anti-ship missiles. With NATO's superiority at sea, the Warsaw Pact needed a means to attack NATO shipping. The Styx cruise missile (and its Chinese copy Silkworm) were large radar-guided missiles, first used by Egypt against Israel. As technology improved, missiles could be made smaller and launched from aircraft as well as ships and submarines.
Paveway. Engaged in a conventional war in Vietnam, the US Air Force needed a more accurate weapon to engage point targets and so developed the Paveway series of laser-guided bombs. Its first deployment was against the Thanh Hoa Bridge which had previously been attacked 800 times – it was damaged on the first attack with Paveway.
GBU-11/B Paveway 1
American guided bomb

16. History
Gulf War
Guided weapons now commonplace – 10% of all air-surface weapons launched were guided
In 2003 invasion, 90% of air-surface weapons launched were guided
309. History.
c. Gulf war. By the time of the Gulf War guided weapons had become relatively commonplace – in the 1990 invasion 10% of all allied weapons dropped were guided. Just over a decade later in the invasion, the ratio of guided to unguided weapons was reversed – 90% of all weapons dropped were guided.

17. Roles Strategic strike Suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD)
Anti-tank
Anti-shipping
310. Roles.
Strategic strike. Just as in the Cold War, high-value targets tend to have effective defences. Long-range weapons allow attacks from well outside of the range of both ground-based air defences and enemy fighters.
SEAD. To directly attack enemy air defences, specialised weapons are used – these have to have the range and/or the speed to destroy or degrade the enemy defences before the defences can destroy the aircraft.
Anti-tank. Enemy tanks are a relatively high-value tactical target which can present a serious threat to friendly ground forces – specialised weapons are used to destroy the armour.
Anti-shipping. Enemy ships generally have effective anti-aircraft defences, necessitating stand-off weapons which attack at low level to give the ship minimal warning.

18. Damage Levels Suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD) Delicate targets
Short term effect
Speed and accuracy more important than destructive effect
311. Damage levels.
Strategic strike. Because strategic targets tend to be large (such as bridges, airports and power stations) a significant size of warhead and missile is required.
SEAD. Enemy air defences rely on fairly complex networks of radars, command facilities and weapons and generally only need to be degraded for a short time (until friendly aircraft are out of the area) simply damaging a key part of the system is often sufficient. SEAD weapons therefore tend to favour speed, range and accuracy over destructive effect.
Anti-tank. Tank damage is normally categorised as complete destruction (K-kill) or a stopping the tank's ability to move (M-kill). A relatively small amount of explosive (several kilograms) is generally sufficient to achieve a K-kill or M-kill.
Anti-shipping. Ships may either be damaged or sunk – a single hit may be enough to sink a small ship or damage a larger one, it may require multiple hits to sink a larger ship.

19. Damage Levels Anti-tank Categorised as M-Kill or K-Kill
Mobility-Kill – tank unable to move
Complete destruction
A relatively small amount of explosive is required to achieve M-Kill or K-Kill
Friendly troops or neutral personnel may be in the vicinity
Accuracy is favoured over warhead size
311. Damage levels.
Strategic strike. Because strategic targets tend to be large (such as bridges, airports and power stations) a significant size of warhead and missile is required.
SEAD. Enemy air defences rely on fairly complex networks of radars, command facilities and weapons and generally only need to be degraded for a short time (until friendly aircraft are out of the area) simply damaging a key part of the system is often sufficient. SEAD weapons therefore tend to favour speed, range and accuracy over destructive effect.
Anti-tank. Tank damage is normally categorised as complete destruction (K-kill) or a stopping the tank's ability to move (M-kill). A relatively small amount of explosive (several kilograms) is generally sufficient to achieve a K-kill or M-kill.
Anti-shipping. Ships may either be damaged or sunk – a single hit may be enough to sink a small ship or damage a larger one, it may require multiple hits to sink a larger ship.

20. Damage Levels Anti-shipping Ships can be damaged or sunk
Larger ships may require multiple hits to sink
311. Damage levels.
Strategic strike. Because strategic targets tend to be large (such as bridges, airports and power stations) a significant size of warhead and missile is required.
SEAD. Enemy air defences rely on fairly complex networks of radars, command facilities and weapons and generally only need to be degraded for a short time (until friendly aircraft are out of the area) simply damaging a key part of the system is often sufficient. SEAD weapons therefore tend to favour speed, range and accuracy over destructive effect.
Anti-tank. Tank damage is normally categorised as complete destruction (K-kill) or a stopping the tank's ability to move (M-kill). A relatively small amount of explosive (several kilograms) is generally sufficient to achieve a K-kill or M-kill.
Anti-shipping. Ships may either be damaged or sunk – a single hit may be enough to sink a small ship or damage a larger one, it may require multiple hits to sink a larger ship.

21. Weapons
311. Damage levels.
Strategic strike. Because strategic targets tend to be large (such as bridges, airports and power stations) a significant size of warhead and missile is required.
SEAD. Enemy air defences rely on fairly complex networks of radars, command facilities and weapons and generally only need to be degraded for a short time (until friendly aircraft are out of the area) simply damaging a key part of the system is often sufficient. SEAD weapons therefore tend to favour speed, range and accuracy over destructive effect.
Anti-tank. Tank damage is normally categorised as complete destruction (K-kill) or a stopping the tank's ability to move (M-kill). A relatively small amount of explosive (several kilograms) is generally sufficient to achieve a K-kill or M-kill.
Anti-shipping. Ships may either be damaged or sunk – a single hit may be enough to sink a small ship or damage a larger one, it may require multiple hits to sink a larger ship.

22. Weapons Storm Shadow Strategic Strike Cruise Missile
Storm Shadow is a long-range, low-observable, precision-guided cruise missile.
Storm Shadow can be launched against a variety of fixed targets from long-range, thus protecting the attacking aircraft from enemy fire.
Storm Shadow is pre-programmed before take-off and cannot be re- targeted in flight.
In the final phases of flight, Storm Shadow will look to visually acquire its target using an on-board infra-red camera. If it cannot positively identify the target then it will fly to a pre-programmed point and crash.
Engine Turbo jet
Range 240+ km
Launch weight 1,300 kg
Speed Mach 0.8
Warhead Dual charge HE
Guidance
Midcourse INS, GPS and TERPROM
Terminal Passive IR (imaging)
Aircraft Tornado
Storm Shadow
Strategic Strike Cruise Missile

23. INS, GPS TERPROM; terminal IR
Weapons
Engine
Range
Launch Weight
Speed
Warhead
Guidance
Aircraft
Turbojet
240+ km
1,300 kg
Mach 0.8
Dual Charge HE
INS, GPS TERPROM; terminal IR
Tornado
312. Storm Shadow.
Storm Shadow is a long-range, low-observable, precision-guided cruise missile.
Storm Shadow can be launched against a variety of fixed targets from long-range, thus protecting the attacking aircraft from enemy fire.
Storm Shadow is pre-programmed before take-off and cannot be re- targeted in flight.
In the final phases of flight, Storm Shadow will look to visually acquire its target using an on-board infra-red camera. If it cannot positively identify the target then it will fly to a pre-programmed point and crash.
Engine Turbo jet
Range 240+ km
Launch weight 1,300 kg
Speed Mach 0.8
Warhead Dual charge HE
Guidance
Midcourse INS, GPS and TERPROM
Terminal Passive IR (imaging)
Aircraft Tornado
Storm Shadow
Strategic Strike Cruise Missile

24. Weapons Hellfire Anti-armour and General Purpose Missile
The AGM-114 Hellfire is an air-to-surface missile (ASM) first developed for anti-armour use , but later models were developed for precision strikes against other target types, such as troops or buildings using an area-effect thermobaric warhead. It was originally developed under the name Helicopter Launched, Fire and Forget Missile, which led to the acronym 'Hellfire' that became the missile's formal name.
The Hellfire can be deployed from rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, waterborne vessels and land-based systems against a variety of targets.
Engine Rocket motor
Range 8 km
Launch weight 45 kg
Speed Supersonic
Warhead 9 kg tandem charge or thermobaric
Guidance Semi-active laser
Aircraft Reaper and Apache
Hellfire
Anti-armour and General Purpose Missile

25. 9 kg tandem or thermo-baric
Weapons
Engine
Range
Launch Weight
Speed
Warhead
Guidance
Aircraft
Rocket
8 km
45 kg
> Mach 1
9 kg tandem or thermo-baric
Semi-active laser
Reaper and Apache
313. Hellfire.
The AGM-114 Hellfire is an air-to-surface missile (ASM) first developed for anti-armour use , but later models were developed for precision strikes against other target types, such as troops or buildings using an area-effect thermobaric warhead. It was originally developed under the name Helicopter Launched, Fire and Forget Missile, which led to the acronym 'Hellfire' that became the missile's formal name.
The Hellfire can be deployed from rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, waterborne vessels and land-based systems against a variety of targets.
Engine Rocket motor
Range 8 km
Launch weight 45 kg
Speed Supersonic
Warhead 9 kg tandem charge or thermobaric
Guidance Semi-active laser
Aircraft Reaper and Apache
Hellfire
Anti-armour and General Purpose Missile

26. Weapons Brimstone Long-range Anti-armour Missile 314. Brimstone.
Brimstone is an advanced dual-mode laser- and radar-guided weapon. It can seek and destroy armoured targets at long range.
In indirect attack mode, weapons are launched when the targets and their position are not visible to the attacking aircraft. In direct attack mode the pilot uses an onboard sighting system to select the target. The target can lie off the aircraft’s track, thus the pilot does not need to manoeuvre to release the weapons.
Brimstone is based loosely on the airframe of the Hellfire missile
Engine Rocket motor
Range 60+ km
Launch weight 49 kg
Speed Supersonic
Warhead Tandem charge HEAT
Guidance
Midcourse INS
Terminal Active radar or semi-active laser
Aircraft Tornado and Reaper
Brimstone
Long-range Anti-armour Missile

27. INS; terminal active radar or SA laser
Weapons
Engine
Range
Launch Weight
Speed
Warhead
Guidance
Aircraft
Rocket
60+ km
49 kg
> Mach 1
Tandem HEAT
INS; terminal active radar or SA laser
Tornado and Reaper
314. Brimstone.
Brimstone is an advanced dual-mode laser- and radar-guided weapon. It can seek and destroy armoured targets at long range.
In indirect attack mode, weapons are launched when the targets and their position are not visible to the attacking aircraft. In direct attack mode the pilot uses an onboard sighting system to select the target. The target can lie off the aircraft’s track, thus the pilot does not need to manoeuvre to release the weapons.
Brimstone is based loosely on the airframe of the Hellfire missile
Engine Rocket motor
Range 60+ km
Launch weight 49 kg
Speed Supersonic
Warhead Tandem charge HEAT
Guidance
Midcourse INS
Terminal Active radar or semi-active laser
Aircraft Tornado and Reaper
Brimstone
Long-range Anti-armour Missile

28. Weapons Maverick Anti-armour Missile (retired)
315. Maverick. (Retired)
Maverick was introduced onto the Harrier GR7/GR9 as a stop-gap prior to the introduction of Brimstone. Maverick is a highly precise fire-and-forget missile that can be used against armoured vehicles and small structures. Maverick can use TV, Infra-Red or Laser Guidance to allow it to be used in smoke, dust or poor weather.
Maverick is significantly larger than Brimstone and as a result only two missiles can be carried per aircraft compared to six for Brimstone.
Engine Rocket motor
Range 22+ km
Launch weight 218 kg
Speed Mach 1
Warhead 57 kg
Guidance IR/light imaging, semi-active laser
Aircraft Harrier
Maverick
Anti-armour Missile (retired)

29. IR/light imaging, SA laser
Weapons
Engine
Range
Launch Weight
Speed
Warhead
Guidance
Aircraft
Rocket
22+ km
218 kg
Mach 1
57 kg HE
IR/light imaging, SA laser
Harrier
315. Maverick. (Retired)
Maverick was introduced onto the Harrier GR7/GR9 as a stop-gap prior to the introduction of Brimstone. Maverick is a highly precise fire-and-forget missile that can be used against armoured vehicles and small structures. Maverick can use TV, Infra-Red or Laser Guidance to allow it to be used in smoke, dust or poor weather.
Maverick is significantly larger than Brimstone and as a result only two missiles can be carried per aircraft compared to six for Brimstone.
Engine Rocket motor
Range 22+ km
Launch weight 218 kg
Speed Mach 1
Warhead 57 kg
Guidance IR/light imaging, semi-active laser
Aircraft Harrier
Maverick
Anti-armour Missile (retired)

30. Weapons ALARM Anti-radar Missile (retired) 316. ALARM. (Retired)
The Air Launched Anti-Radiation Missile (ALARM) is designed to destroy enemy ground-based radar systems in order to suppress enemy air defences.
ALARM operates by homing onto the radar energy being emitted by the target radar and can loiter in the area if the radar is switched off.
It can be pre-programmed to box-search for specific hostile radars after launch and then attack the highest priority threat.
Engine Pause-able rocket motor
Range 93 km
Launch weight 260 kg
Speed Supersonic
Warhead Proximity-fuzed HE, weight unknown
Guidance Passive radar
Aircraft Tornado
ALARM
Anti-radar Missile (retired)

31. Weapons ALARM Engine Range Launch Weight Speed Warhead Guidance
Aircraft
Pause-able rocket
93 km
260 kg
> Mach 1
Proximity fused HE
Passive radar
Tornado
316. ALARM. (Retired)
The Air Launched Anti-Radiation Missile (ALARM) is designed to destroy enemy ground-based radar systems in order to suppress enemy air defences.
ALARM operates by homing onto the radar energy being emitted by the target radar and can loiter in the area if the radar is switched off.
It can be pre-programmed to box-search for specific hostile radars after launch and then attack the highest priority threat.
Engine Pause-able rocket motor
Range 93 km
Launch weight 260 kg
Speed Supersonic
Warhead Proximity-fuzed HE, weight unknown
Guidance Passive radar
Aircraft Tornado
ALARM
Anti-radar Missile (retired)

32. Weapons Harpoon Anti-ship Cruise Missile (Royal Navy) 317. Harpoon.
The Harpoon AGM-84D is a fully autonomous, over-the-horizon, all- weather, anti-ship missile.
The missile can operate using pre-programmed targeting information or can use its own active radar for terminal acquisition of the target.
The Harpoon can be launched at long range, thereby minimising the danger of counter-detection and subsequent attack against the launch aircraft.
The warhead is a high-explosive unit capable of surviving the initial impact with the target’s hull, enabling the missile to detonate inside the ship, so increasing its destructiveness.
Engine Turbo jet
Range 125 km
Launch weight 519 kg (air), 691 kg (surface launch)
Speed Subsonic
Warhead 222 kg high explosive penetrating
Guidance Inertial mid-course, active radar terminal
Aircraft Formerly Nimrod, now surface-launch only
Harpoon
Anti-ship Cruise Missile (Royal Navy)

33. Weapons Harpoon Engine Range Launch Weight Speed Warhead Guidance
Aircraft
Turbojet
125 km
159 kg (air) 691 kg (ship)
< Mach 1
222 kg HE penetrating
Inertial; terminal active radar
Formerly Nimrod, now ship
317. Harpoon.
The Harpoon AGM-84D is a fully autonomous, over-the-horizon, all- weather, anti-ship missile.
The missile can operate using pre-programmed targeting information or can use its own active radar for terminal acquisition of the target.
The Harpoon can be launched at long range, thereby minimising the danger of counter-detection and subsequent attack against the launch aircraft.
The warhead is a high-explosive unit capable of surviving the initial impact with the target’s hull, enabling the missile to detonate inside the ship, so increasing its destructiveness.
Engine Turbo jet
Range 125 km
Launch weight 519 kg (air), 691 kg (surface launch)
Speed Subsonic
Warhead 222 kg high explosive penetrating
Guidance Inertial mid-course, active radar terminal
Aircraft Formerly Nimrod, now surface-launch only
Harpoon
Anti-ship Cruise Missile (Royal Navy)

34. Weapons Sea Skua Short-range Anti-ship Missile (Royal Navy)
The Sea Skua is a British lightweight short-range air-to-surface missile (ASM) designed for use from helicopters against ships. It is primarily used by the Royal Navy on the Westland Lynx. With the missile weighing only 320 pounds (150 kg) at launch, a Lynx helicopter can carry up to four (two on each wing pylon).
It can be set to travel at one of four pre-selected heights, depending on the surface conditions. Near the target, the missile climbs to a height at which it can "acquire" the target. The launching helicopter illuminates the target with its radar and the missile's homing head homes in on the reflected energy. On impact it penetrates the hull of a ship before detonating the warhead.
Engine 2 x rocket motors (booster and sustainer)
Range 25 km
Launch weight 150 kg
Speed Mach 0.8
Warhead 30 kg penetrating HE
Guidance Semi-active radar
Aircraft Lynx HMA8 (Royal Navy)
Sea Skua
Short-range Anti-ship Missile (Royal Navy)

35. Rocket + booster rocket
Weapons
Engine
Range
Launch Weight
Speed
Warhead
Guidance
Aircraft
Rocket + booster rocket
25 km
150 kg
Mach 0.8
30kg penetrating HE
SA radar
Lynx HMA8
318. Sea Skua.
The Sea Skua is a British lightweight short-range air-to-surface missile (ASM) designed for use from helicopters against ships. It is primarily used by the Royal Navy on the Westland Lynx. With the missile weighing only 320 pounds (150 kg) at launch, a Lynx helicopter can carry up to four (two on each wing pylon).
It can be set to travel at one of four pre-selected heights, depending on the surface conditions. Near the target, the missile climbs to a height at which it can "acquire" the target. The launching helicopter illuminates the target with its radar and the missile's homing head homes in on the reflected energy. On impact it penetrates the hull of a ship before detonating the warhead.
Engine 2 x rocket motors (booster and sustainer)
Range 25 km
Launch weight 150 kg
Speed Mach 0.8
Warhead 30 kg penetrating HE
Guidance Semi-active radar
Aircraft Lynx HMA8 (Royal Navy)
Sea Skua
Short-range Anti-ship Missile (Royal Navy)

36. Paveway II & III and Enhanced Paveway II & III
Weapons
319. Paveway. Paveway is a family of guided bombs, which currently includes the basic Paveway II & III laser-guided bombs, the Enhanced Paveway II & III which add GPS/INS guidance to Paveway II & III and the advanced, reduced-size Paveway IV.
Paveway II & Enhanced Paveway II. Paveway II is a 1,000lb (500kg) class guided bomb, steered to its target either by a laser designator on the launch aircraft or by laser illumination by friendly ground troops.
Launch weight 546 kg
Warhead Approx 227 kg explosive filling
Guidance
Paveway II Laser
Enhanced Paveway II Laser, INS, GPS
Aircraft Tornado and Typhoon
Paveway III & Enhanced Paveway III. Paveway III is a 2,000lb (1,000kg) class guided bomb, used primarily to defeat hardened targets such as bunkers.
Launch weight kg
Warhead Approx 500 kg explosive filling
Paveway III Laser
Enhanced Paveway III Laser, INS, GPS
Aircraft Tornado
Paveway IV. This advanced and highly accurate weapon provides the RAF with a state-of-the-art precision guided bomb. It replaces the Paveway II weapons and unguided general-purpose bombs. Equipped with the latest Global Positioning Guidance technology, Paveway IV is a low-cost, all-weather, 24-hour precision bomb capable of destroying the majority of general-purpose targets while significantly minimising collateral damage.
Launch weight 225 kg
Guidance Laser, INS, GPS
Paveway II & III and Enhanced Paveway II & III
Guided Bombs

37. Paveway II & III and Enhanced Paveway II & III
Weapons
Launch Weight
Warhead
Guidance
Aircraft
PW II
546 kg
227 kg HE filling
Laser
Tornado and Typhoon
EPW II
Laser, INS, GPS
PW III
1141 kg
500 kg HE filling
Tornado
EPW III
319. Paveway. Paveway is a family of guided bombs, which currently includes the basic Paveway II & III laser-guided bombs, the Enhanced Paveway II & III which add GPS/INS guidance to Paveway II & III and the advanced, reduced-size Paveway IV.
Paveway II & Enhanced Paveway II. Paveway II is a 1,000lb (500kg) class guided bomb, steered to its target either by a laser designator on the launch aircraft or by laser illumination by friendly ground troops.
Launch weight 546 kg
Warhead Approx 227 kg explosive filling
Guidance
Paveway II Laser
Enhanced Paveway II Laser, INS, GPS
Aircraft Tornado and Typhoon
Paveway III & Enhanced Paveway III. Paveway III is a 2,000lb (1,000kg) class guided bomb, used primarily to defeat hardened targets such as bunkers.
Launch weight kg
Warhead Approx 500 kg explosive filling
Paveway III Laser
Enhanced Paveway III Laser, INS, GPS
Aircraft Tornado
Paveway IV. This advanced and highly accurate weapon provides the RAF with a state-of-the-art precision guided bomb. It replaces the Paveway II weapons and unguided general-purpose bombs. Equipped with the latest Global Positioning Guidance technology, Paveway IV is a low-cost, all-weather, 24-hour precision bomb capable of destroying the majority of general-purpose targets while significantly minimising collateral damage.
Launch weight 225 kg
Guidance Laser, INS, GPS
Paveway II & III and Enhanced Paveway II & III
Guided Bombs

38. Weapons Paveway IV Guided Bomb
319. Paveway. Paveway is a family of guided bombs, which currently includes the basic Paveway II & III laser-guided bombs, the Enhanced Paveway II & III which add GPS/INS guidance to Paveway II & III and the advanced, reduced-size Paveway IV.
Paveway II & Enhanced Paveway II. Paveway II is a 1,000lb (500kg) class guided bomb, steered to its target either by a laser designator on the launch aircraft or by laser illumination by friendly ground troops.
Launch weight 546 kg
Warhead Approx 227 kg explosive filling
Guidance
Paveway II Laser
Enhanced Paveway II Laser, INS, GPS
Aircraft Tornado and Typhoon
Paveway III & Enhanced Paveway III. Paveway III is a 2,000lb (1,000kg) class guided bomb, used primarily to defeat hardened targets such as bunkers.
Launch weight kg
Warhead Approx 500 kg explosive filling
Paveway III Laser
Enhanced Paveway III Laser, INS, GPS
Aircraft Tornado
Paveway IV. This advanced and highly accurate weapon provides the RAF with a state-of-the-art precision guided bomb. It replaces the Paveway II weapons and unguided general-purpose bombs. Equipped with the latest Global Positioning Guidance technology, Paveway IV is a low-cost, all-weather, 24-hour precision bomb capable of destroying the majority of general-purpose targets while significantly minimising collateral damage.
Launch weight 225 kg
Guidance Laser, INS, GPS
Paveway IV
Guided Bomb

39. Weapons Paveway IV Launch Weight Warhead Guidance Aircraft 225 kg ?
Laser, INS, GPS
Tornado and Typhoon
319. Paveway. Paveway is a family of guided bombs, which currently includes the basic Paveway II & III laser-guided bombs, the Enhanced Paveway II & III which add GPS/INS guidance to Paveway II & III and the advanced, reduced-size Paveway IV.
Paveway II & Enhanced Paveway II. Paveway II is a 1,000lb (500kg) class guided bomb, steered to its target either by a laser designator on the launch aircraft or by laser illumination by friendly ground troops.
Launch weight 546 kg
Warhead Approx 227 kg explosive filling
Guidance
Paveway II Laser
Enhanced Paveway II Laser, INS, GPS
Aircraft Tornado and Typhoon
Paveway III & Enhanced Paveway III. Paveway III is a 2,000lb (1,000kg) class guided bomb, used primarily to defeat hardened targets such as bunkers.
Launch weight kg
Warhead Approx 500 kg explosive filling
Paveway III Laser
Enhanced Paveway III Laser, INS, GPS
Aircraft Tornado
Paveway IV. This advanced and highly accurate weapon provides the RAF with a state-of-the-art precision guided bomb. It replaces the Paveway II weapons and unguided general-purpose bombs. Equipped with the latest Global Positioning Guidance technology, Paveway IV is a low-cost, all-weather, 24-hour precision bomb capable of destroying the majority of general-purpose targets while significantly minimising collateral damage.
Launch weight 225 kg
Guidance Laser, INS, GPS
Paveway IV
Guided Bomb

40. Weapons GP Bomb 505kg Unguided Bomb 320. General-purpose bombs.
The 505kg general purpose bomb uses a unitary blast warhead and can be dropped as unguided freefall bomb or fitted with a retarder unit, allowing aircraft to drop a bomb at low level over the target and get clear before detonation.
The bomb has three modes of detonation: above a target in airburst mode, impact detonation, or post-impact detonation after a pre-set delay.
The 505 kg bomb provides the warhead for the Paveway II/Enhanced Paveway II laser-guided bomb.
Launch weight 505 kg
Warhead Approx 227 kg explosive filling
Guidance None
Aircraft Tornado
GP Bomb
505kg Unguided Bomb

41. Weapons GP Bomb Launch Weight Warhead Guidance Aircraft 505 kg
227 kg HE filling
None
Tornado
320. General-purpose bombs.
The 505kg general purpose bomb uses a unitary blast warhead and can be dropped as unguided freefall bomb or fitted with a retarder unit, allowing aircraft to drop a bomb at low level over the target and get clear before detonation.
The bomb has three modes of detonation: above a target in airburst mode, impact detonation, or post-impact detonation after a pre-set delay.
The 505 kg bomb provides the warhead for the Paveway II/Enhanced Paveway II laser-guided bomb.
Launch weight 505 kg
Warhead Approx 227 kg explosive filling
Guidance None
Aircraft Tornado
GP Bomb
505kg Unguided Bomb

42. Weapons BL 755 Cluster Bomb (retired) 321. Cluster bombs. (Retired)
When BL755 is released it breaks open in the airflow and releases 147 high-explosive bomblets into the target area, thus allowing multiple targets to be attacked with one weapon.
The BL755 and upgraded IBL755 are used against vehicles and equipment and are delivered from low-level attacks.
The RBL755 is a further upgrade which has an enhanced anti-armour capability and can be delivered from a medium-level attack, thus allowing the aircraft to operate from a safer altitude.
Cluster bombs have been withdrawn from British service in line with the international Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Launch weight 277 kg
Warhead 147 sub-munitions
Guidance None
Aircraft Tornado
BL 755
Cluster Bomb (retired)

43. Weapons BL 755 Launch Weight Warhead Guidance Aircraft 227 kg
147 sub-munitions
None
Tornado (formerly)
321. Cluster bombs. (Retired)
When BL755 is released it breaks open in the airflow and releases 147 high-explosive bomblets into the target area, thus allowing multiple targets to be attacked with one weapon.
The BL755 and upgraded IBL755 are used against vehicles and equipment and are delivered from low-level attacks.
The RBL755 is a further upgrade which has an enhanced anti-armour capability and can be delivered from a medium-level attack, thus allowing the aircraft to operate from a safer altitude.
Cluster bombs have been withdrawn from British service in line with the international Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Launch weight 277 kg
Warhead 147 sub-munitions
Guidance None
Aircraft Tornado
BL 755
Cluster Bomb (retired)

44. Weapons CRV-7 Unguided Rocket (Army) 322. CRV-7.
CRV-7 rockets are launched from 19- missile pods in a pre- programmed ripple and are used to attack lightly protected installations, ships or armoured forces from a range of up to 3 nautical miles.
They can be fitted with a high explosive warhead for un-armoured targets, or a kinetic energy penetrator, which contains no explosives, for attacks on armoured targets.
Engine Rocket motor
Range 5.5 km
Launch weight 11 kg
Speed Not known
Warhead 6 kg HE or KE penetrator
Guidance None
Aircraft Apache
CRV-7
Unguided Rocket (Army)

45. Weapons CRV-7 Engine Range Launch Weight Speed Warhead Guidance
Aircraft
Rocket
5.5 km
11 kg ?
6 kg HE or kinetic penetrator
None
Apache, Harrier (former)
322. CRV-7.
CRV-7 rockets are launched from 19- missile pods in a pre- programmed ripple and are used to attack lightly protected installations, ships or armoured forces from a range of up to 3 nautical miles.
They can be fitted with a high explosive warhead for un-armoured targets, or a kinetic energy penetrator, which contains no explosives, for attacks on armoured targets.
Engine Rocket motor
Range 5.5 km
Launch weight 11 kg
Speed Not known
Warhead 6 kg HE or KE penetrator
Guidance None
Aircraft Apache
CRV-7
Unguided Rocket (Army)

46. Objectives
Explain:
Advantages and disadvantages of missiles, bombs and rockets
The history of air-to-surface and surface-to-surface weapons
The main roles for air-to-surface missiles
Explain the type of damage required to disable target types
Details of the main missiles, bombs and rockets launched from aircraft in British service
306. Objectives. Explain:
Advantages and disadvantages of missiles, bombs and rockets.
The history of air-to-surface and surface-to-surface weapons
The main roles for air-to-surface missiles:
Explain the type of damage required to disable target types
Details of the main missiles, bombs and rockets launched from aircraft in British service.