 |
|
KEPD
350
|
 |
|
The
JASSM
|
 |
|
The
SLAM-ER
|
|
|
OUR
Hornets and Orions are to be armed with a new generation of long-range
air-tosurface missiles. Defence Minister Robert Hill announced
the decision on August 26. Defence is to examine three potential
candidates.
They are Lockheed Martin’s AGM 158 Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off
Missile (JASSM), a variant of the German-Swedish company Taurus
GmbH’s KEPD 350 and Boeing’s Stand-off Land Attack Missile.
The project is worth between $350 and $450 million, however there
is no announcement yet on how many long-range missiles will be
purchased.
The JASSM is a long-range stealth missile with a range of about
400km. The KEPD 350 has a range of about 350km and the SLAM-ER,
an upgraded variant of the AGM-84 Harpoon already in inventory,
a range of about 280km.
These ranges are well beyond that of the Harpoon variant currently
in service. The new missile will fill a perceived gap in longer
range air-to-surface defence capabilities following the retirement
of the F-111s and introduction of their replacements.
It will significantly enhance the ADF’s air strike capability
by providing a long-range, accurate system against a wide range
of land and seaborne targets.
According to Senator Hill, the new missiles, combined with new
air-to-air missiles and upgraded precision-guided munitions, will
provide Australia with the region’s most lethal capacity for air
combat and strike operations.
“The long range of these new missiles will reduce the risk to
both aircraft and crew by decreasing their exposure in a high
threat environment,” he said.
Defence will now start the evaluation of the three candidates
and is expected to make its recommendation to the government next
year. The selected missile is expected to enter service between
2007 and 2009.
| MISSILE
CHARACTERISTICS |
|
SLAM-ER |
JASSM |
KEPD
350 |
| Length: |
4.37m |
4.26m |
5.1m |
| Diameter: |
343
mm |
550mm |
630mm |
| Wing
Span |
2.18m: |
2.7m |
1m |
| Launch
Weight: |
680kg |
1023kg |
1090kg |
| Range: |
280Km
(app) |
400Km
(app) |
350Km
(app) |
| Warhead: |
247kg
HE |
432kg
HE |
450kg |
| Guidance: |
Inertial
GPS/IIR |
Inertial
GPS/IIR |
Radar |
| Fuse: |
Impact |
n/a |
INS/GPS/IIR |
| Propulsion: |
Turbofan |
Turbojet |
Turbojet |
| Information
from Janes |
