Misplaced Pages

#565434

20-485: Starting in 1959 the U.S. Army MICOM (Missile Command) began development of an ambitious anti-aircraft missile system under their "Forward Area Air Defense" (FAAD) program. Known as the MIM-46 Mauler , it was based on a modified M113 chassis carrying a large rotating A-frame rack on top with nine missiles and both long-range search and shorter-range tracking radars. Operation was to be almost entirely automatic, with

40-456: A 2019 "budget of more $ 3.7 billion, and a global workforce of more than 15,000 military and civilian employees". AMCOM works closely with The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC) which operates simulation facilities to evaluate missile components, such as seekers, in a variety of flights and countermeasures environments. AMCOM also has access to several wind tunnels to test full-size helicopters,

60-662: A FLIR unit was installed to give the system an all-weather/night capability. The MIM-72A missile was based on the AIM-9D Sidewinder . The main difference is that to reduce drag only two of the fins on the MIM-72A have rollerons , the other two having been replaced by fixed thin fins. The MIM-72's MK 50 solid-fuel rocket motor was essentially identical to the MK 36 MOD 5 used in the AIM-9D Sidewinder. MIM-72B

80-702: A search radar, so a separate radar system using datalink was developed for this role. The studies were completed in 1965 and the Chaparral program was begun. The first XMIM-72A missiles were delivered to the US Army in 1967. Ford developed the M730 vehicle, adapted from the M548, itself one of the many versions of the widely used M113. The first Chaparral battalion was deployed in May 1969. A small target-acquisition area radar,

100-407: A target no matter which way the target faces relative to the missile. In other words, an all-aspect missile can be launched against a target not only in a tail-chase engagement , but also in a head-on engagement , in a side-on engagement, from above, from below, etc. This is opposed to older infrared homing rear aspect missiles which were only able to track the hot engine exhaust of an aircraft if

120-535: A vertical motion simulator for flight control evaluation and a crash-testing tower used to improve safety . AMCOM's Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment Activity provides worldwide command and control over a broad metrology and calibration program. AMCOM is also the leader in foreign military sales, accounting for over 50 percent of total army sales to Allied forces and friendly foreign nations. AMCOM's main organizations are organized into "centers": U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command

140-458: Is an LCMC. Thus it has an associated contracting center. This LCMC Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command was formerly Aviation and Missile Command (1997). This LCMC "purchases about $ 1 billion worth of aircraft and missile parts each year." The U.S. Army Missile Command was formally established on 23 May 1962 at Redstone Arsenal to manage the army's missile systems. All-aspect An all-aspect air-to-air missile can track

160-525: Is primarily responsible for lifecycle management of army missile , helicopter , unmanned ground vehicle and unmanned aerial vehicle weapon system . The central part of AMCOM's mission involves ensuring readiness through acquisition and sustainment support for aviation systems, missile systems, and test, measurement, and diagnostic equipment (TMDE) throughout their life cycle . The command is headquartered at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama , has

180-887: The AN/MPQ-49 Forward Area Alerting Radar (FAAR), was developed in 1966 to support the Chaparral/Vulcan system, although the FAAR is transported by the Gama Goat and thus not suitable for use in the front line. The complete system was known as the M48 Chaparral Intercept-Aerial Guided Missile System, composed of the M54 Launching Station atop the M730 carrier, a M113 variant . M730A1 had M113A2 improvements, while M730A2

200-564: The "Interim Forward Area Air Defense" (IFAAD) evolved around the Sidewinder. The main concern was that at shorter distances the missile would not have time to lock onto the target before it flew out of range, so to serve this need a second vehicle based around the M61 Vulcan cannon was specified. Both would be aimed manually, eliminating the delay needed for a fire control system to develop a "solution". Neither vehicle concept had room for

220-588: The Trainers could be fitted with tactical seekers. The M30 replicated the live "A" using the original Mk28 seeker head, while the M33 replicated "C" and later and was fitted with the AN/DAW series of seekers United States Army Aviation and Missile Command The United States Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) develops, acquires, fields and sustains aviation, missile and unmanned aerial vehicles. AMCOM

SECTION 10

#1732791415566

240-468: The ground-to-air role. Since the Sidewinder was guided by an infrared seeker , it would not be confused by ground clutter like the radar-guided Mauler. On the downside, the missile required some time to "lock on", and the current generation seekers were only able to lock onto the tail of an aircraft. MICOM's report was cautiously optimistic, concluding that the Sidewinder could be adapted very quickly, although it would have limited capability. A new concept,

260-750: The late 1980s and new-build G models followed between 1990 and 1991. By this point in time the system was already being removed from regular Army service, and being handed over to the National Guard. MIM-72H refers to an export version of the MIM-72F MIM-72J is an MIM-72G with a downgraded guidance and control section, and was also intended for export. Two training missiles, the Trainer M30 and Trainer M33 , were also built. Used for loading practice, these trainers used inert dummy components and could not be launched. For tracking practice,

280-586: The launch site. MIM-72F was an export model, and is virtually identical to the MIM-72E, just being newly built instead of retrofitted. MIM-72G was the final upgrade to the system. The rosette scan seeker of the Stinger POST was adapted to the Chaparral by Ford in a program beginning in 1980. The improved AN/DAW-2 seeker offered a large field of view, as well as the ability to reject most flares and countermeasures. All existing missiles had been updated by

300-540: The mid-1950s PENTANA study was based on having embedded mobile anti-aircraft capability, and Mauler's delays put this entire program in question. More worrying, a new generation of Soviet attack aircraft was coming into service. For both of these reasons the Mauler program was scaled back in 1963 and alternatives were studied. MICOM was directed to study whether or not the Navy's AIM-9D Sidewinder missile could be adapted for

320-617: The missile was also developed, based on the C version of the missile – the RIM-72C Sea Chaparral . This was not adopted by the U.S. Navy , however it was exported to Taiwan . MIM-72D was built for export, combining the seeker of the "A" with the improved M250 warhead. MIM-72E retrofitted "C" of the late 1970s using the M121 smokeless motor, which greatly reduced the smoke generated on firing, thus allowing easier follow-up shots and making it harder for enemy aircraft to find

340-405: The necessary power to run the mount, and a cryonic air cooler provides the missile seekers with the necessary cooling. On early models the power unit was a two-cylinder 10 horsepower gasoline engine, though it was replaced with a more powerful 30 hp diesel engine in the early 1980s, greatly improving available power while simultaneously allowing fuel compatibility with the main engine. In 1984,

360-449: The operators simply selecting targets from the search radar's display and then pressing "fire". The entire engagement would be handled by the fire control computer. In testing, Mauler proved to have numerous problems. Many of these were relatively minor, including problems with the rocket motors or fins on the airframe. Others, like problems with the fire control and guidance systems, appeared to be more difficult to solve. Army strategy from

380-500: Was a training missile with the radar fuze replaced with an IR model for use against target drones. 1974 saw the introduction of the MIM-72C , used the advanced AN/DAW-1B seeker with all-aspect capability, as well as a new doppler radar fuze and M250 blast-frag warhead. The fuze and warhead were adapted from the earlier Mauler program. C models were deployed between 1976 and 1981, reaching operational status in 1978. A naval version of

400-401: Was upgraded to M113A3 standard complete with diesel engine The launcher was capable of a full 360 degrees traverse and +90/-9 degrees of elevation. Four missiles were carried on the launch rails, with eight extras stored below the launcher with their fins and wings removed. The gunner sat between the missile pairs on the mount, aiming using a simple reflex sight. An auxiliary power unit provides

#565434