Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!cbnews!military
From: ted@cs.utexas.edu (Ted Woodward)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: AGM-130
Message-ID: <1990Jul23.201132.4456@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 23 Jul 90 20:11:32 GMT
References: <1990Jul17.031957.22887@cbnews.att.com> <1990Jul18.040616.13646@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: U. Texas CS Dept., Austin, Texas
Lines: 63
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: ted@cs.utexas.edu (Ted Woodward)

In article <1990Jul18.040616.13646@cbnews.att.com> tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (Random Dude)) writes:
>
>In article <1990Jul17.031957.22887@cbnews.att.com> scott%sting.Berkeley.EDU@ (Scott Silvey) writes:
>>What is this missile, what are it's capabilities, what are it's 
>>  intended targets, and how old is it?
>>  Which of the services uses it and how common is it?
>
>Others, no doubt, can give a more complete description, but here is
>what I have heard ...

I'll try.  I've got a copy of Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1985-86 here,
and here's what it says about the AGM 130:

(Reprinted without permission)

Rockwell has received a contract to develop and test a rocket powered version
of the GBU-15, designated AGM-130, which is intended to give USAF tactical
combat aircraft improved standoff capability.  Two versions are proposed:

AGM-130A. With Mk 84 bomb as standard unitary warhead.

AGM-130B. With multiple warhead, carrying BLY-97 combined effects bomblets
or BLU-106 BKEP runway cratering submunitions in an SUU-54 or alternative
dispenser.

One or two solid propellant rockets, mounted under the missile, boost it to
near Mach 1 speed, giving a maximum range of about 13nm (24 km; 15 miles)
after release at low altitude.  The FY 1986 Department of Defense budget
proposals include a request for 97 AGM-130s.

(end quote)

The GBU-15 is a glide bomb, with either a Mk 84 for its warhead, cluster
munitions, or other warheads.  Guidance is either TV or imaging infrared (IIR).

>Here are some more questions for you ordnance gurus out in netland:

Well, I'm not an ordinance guru, but here goes...

>Since it's a glide bomb, it does not give much standoff capability.
>Was there any option to power the thing like the Skipper?

According to Jane's, it's a powered GBU-15.

>Was the warhead just a Mk84 bomb?
>Or was the warhead some special penetrating design?

A version is a Mk 84, B version isn't.

>Another stand off weapon (the Condor) was cancelled partly due to the
>high cost of making the data link jam resistant. Was the AGM-130 data
>link (for the TV seeker) supposed to be jam resistant?  

I have no idea.

-- 
Ted Woodward (ted@cs.utexas.edu)

Greetings, Royal Ugly Dudes!