Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military From: besst@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Brian E. Schwadron) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Ballistic missiles Message-ID: <1990Aug22.025508.16612@cbnews.att.com> Date: 22 Aug 90 02:55:08 GMT References: <1990Aug8.030510.25946@cbnews.att.com> <1990Aug14.034455.10614@cbnews.att.com> Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker) Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh, Comp & Info Services Lines: 20 Approved: military@att.att.com From: Brian E. Schwadron In article <1990Aug14.034455.10614@cbnews.att.com> zimerman@phoenix.princeton.edu (Jacob Ben-david Zimmerman) writes: > >I think I recall that, in addition, there were some >missiles which carried transmitters designed to operate on during the >payload's ascent, in order to transmit EAMS (Emergency Action Messages) >or other information to friendly forces (other missile sites, >submarines, bombers) in the event of communication loss >-JBZimmerman! I believe that you are talking about the ERCS ( Emergency Rocket Communication System). It consists of 2 Minutemen with UHF transmitters instead of warheads. The transmitters are programmed with their instructions and launched by a EC-135 Looking Glass. I am not sure, but I believe that the ERCS can only launch ICBMs; they have no capability to send messages to SSBN or bombers.