Reducing the fins from 4 to 3 reduces parts count, and since actuators are now electromagnetic rather than hydraulic/pneumatic, reliability also improves ....
Worth mentioning that with a ~120 degree offset instead of a 90 degree offset you don't have a nice set of corner reflectors, vastly reducing the side-aspect RCS of the missile.
 
[...]
Includes Tomahawk, so the army is now in the GLCM business
[...]
cheers
Still non-nuclear, which the old GLCMs were.
Just as the US Army is back in the non- nuclear GLCM business in Europe again, a lot of pictures showing the development and testing of the nuclear BGM-109G GLCM "Gryphon" during late Seventies / early Eighties were posted at SDASM Flickr archive during the last few weeks. :cool:
Here two appetisers.
Picture 1
Picture 2
 
Cool, this is an interesting recoverable version of the AGM-109/BGM-109 Tomahawk/Gryphon, but I wonder if this version was just for testing, for combat with a warhead, if a mission is aborted, or even for reconnaissance.
Would be interesting if they could make one fly out, drop a couple SDBs, then come back.
 
Cool, this is an interesting recoverable version of the AGM-109/BGM-109 Tomahawk/Gryphon, but I wonder if this version was just for testing, for combat with a warhead, if a mission is aborted, or even for reconnaissance.

The Potential Applications slide lists several uses for a parachute recovered Tomahawk, from reconnaissance to antitank attacks and SEAD.
 
Basically. I'd think Tomahawk might be cheaper but then who knows how many flights you could get out of it. Maybe just make one with a warhead option of 3 SDBs. Now that I think about it, I wonder why they've never done that with ATACMs.

They had a bunch of smart submunition proposals for ATACMS (BAT, for example). SDB might be a bit too long.

Post in thread 'Vought JTACMS/ATACMS (MGM-140)' https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/vought-jtacms-atacms-mgm-140.28752/post-543654
 
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Cool, this is an interesting recoverable version of the AGM-109/BGM-109 Tomahawk/Gryphon, but I wonder if this version was just for testing, for combat with a warhead, if a mission is aborted, or even for reconnaissance.
I have a feeling that the main mission of this version was to get Convair/General Dynamics salespeople into the room with decision makers.

The whole concept of recoverable Tomahawks with reconnaissance packages and/or disposable ordnance does make the point that the line between 'drone', 'suicide drone', and 'cruise missile' is pretty thin.
 
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The whole concept of recoverable Tomahawks with reconnaissance packages and/or disposable ordnance does make the point that the line between 'drone', 'suicide drone', and 'cruise missile' is pretty thin.

And of course, several NATO armies already had things like the CL-89 drone. A recce Tomahawk would have been an improvement in capability but not something radically new.

And of course, the USAF had already experimented with armed Firebee drones.
 
Cool, this is an interesting recoverable version of the AGM-109/BGM-109 Tomahawk/Gryphon, but I wonder if this version was just for testing, for combat with a warhead, if a mission is aborted, or even for reconnaissance.
IMHO the recoverable version of the AGM-109/BGM-109 Tomahawk/Gryphon was first planned for early development and flight testing.
Later on, Convair / General Dynamics proposed some other potential applications. So a recoverable version would have been for reconnaissance and surveillance missions, or as mentioned before with submunition against tanks, SAM-sites and airfields.
View: https://flic.kr/p/2qbeVT1

View: https://flic.kr/p/2qbkR95
View: https://flic.kr/p/2qbmgjW

View: https://flic.kr/p/2qbkRaH
 
Been saying for years (hell probably decades at this point) that we should do something like this.
Yes, something like that would be awesome. Especially if you can pack the equivalent of a Mk37 as the warhead to drop. Or a longer ranged Mk54.

Obviously, a 250kt nuke depth charge is another warhead option.
 
Here a picture showing BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile concept with a turbo prop, which can be recovered by a USN ship.
View: https://flic.kr/p/2qdadsN

Here some more appetisers:
View: https://flic.kr/p/2qdazLk

View: https://flic.kr/p/2qdadqd

and
View: https://flic.kr/p/2qdaA3T

The United Fruit Company (CIA) send their regards. :p:D
More new uploaded pictures can be found at the SDASM Flickr archive since today,
 
Yes Cthell, you're right.:)
After looking at this picture again and seeing the other Tomahawk in upper right corner, it is not a turbo-prop for flight, but rather a rotor kite to slow down the descent during recovery.
 
The 154-inch ALCM on a SRAM launcher is interesting. That's almost 4 feet shorter than MRASM, the shortest version actually tested. Presumably it would have a nuke warhead, or it would end up with almost no fuel at all.
I'm assuming it's an equivalent to the AGM-86A, from before it was decided that developing 'short' and 'long' ALCMs didn't really make sense.
 
I'm assuming it's an equivalent to the AGM-86A, from before it was decided that developing 'short' and 'long' ALCMs didn't really make sense.
The AGM-86A didn't have the required range, that's why it was scrapped... and then 20 years later... JASSM.
 

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