The
following information (direct quotes from Internet sources) suggests
that
Depleted Uranium (DU) may have been in much wider use since 1998
that
previously thought. If DU is the "dense metal" referred to it
has
radical implications for the total tonnage of DU used in the Balkans
war
and the location of DU contaminated targets in Kosovo and Serbia.
This
would invalidate the UNEP studies of DU target zones in the Balkans
and
increase the hazards faced by local communities, Nato and KFOR
troops
in the vicinity of bomb and missile targets. The nature of the
weapons
systems involved would involve far wider
atmospheric
dispersion of DU oxide than from the 30 mm anti-tank shell
targets
inspected by UNEP. "Dense metal" may have been used for its
enhanced
penetration effect in earlier versions of some of these
systems.
A review is needed of the materials specifications of all bomb
and
missile systems in use since 1990 and used in earlier conflicts.
The
"dense metal" referred to will be known by manufacturers and
Government
departments so it should be fairly easy for elected
representatives
in Nato countries to establish the facts. Although the
systems
described or proposed are mainly from the US inventory
including
components supplied by UK manufacturers similar technology
is
likely to be under development by weapons manufacturers in other
countries.
These
questions could have profound implications for
international
control of the proliferation of Depleted Uranium weapons
systems.
They may explain the reluctance of the US and UK
Governments
to consider a global ban on DU munitions. They are offered
to
DU List subscribers for comment and clarification.
Dai
Williams, DU researcher, UK.
DU
is a heavy metal that, when alloyed with titanium (up to 0.75% by
weight),
becomes a material with a density (18,600kg/m3) and
ductility
suited to making penetrators for kinetic energy anti-tank
munitions,
or liners for shaped-charge warheads.
During
the Balkans operations from 1992 to 1996, only the US Air
Force
acknowledges its use in some of its 30mm cannon shells
fired
from the GAU-8A cannon. It is true that some guided weapons
used
depleted uranium to increase the penetration effect and that
the
20mm Phalanx close-in weapon system, used to protect
warships
at sea from sea-skimming missiles, also has a
percentage
of DU rounds.
http://www.janes.com/defence/news/jdw/jdw010108_1_n.shtml
Questions
1.Which of the following systems use Depleted Uranium as the
"dense metal" referred to?
2.How many of these system concepts have been produced in
prototype or production form?
3.How many of these systems or their derivatives have been
used in military operations since Operation Desert Storm?
4.How many countries have stocks of these systems?
High
penetration weapon system concepts / plans
(including
"dense metal" penetrators)
[Air Force Mission Area Plan (MAP)]
ANNEX
F Common Solution/Concept List (U)
[as
of 11 July 1997 - Rev 10]
Extracts from:
http://fas.org/man/dod-101/usaf/docs/mast/annex_f/part26.htm
Summary
WPNS Project #
Device
Delivery
Notes
104
20,000 lb direct attack
bomb
B-52, B-2
Dense metal ballast
113
2250 lb guided bomb
unit (gbu) - boosted
penetrator warhead
F-117
F-16, F/A-18C/D
B-52, B-2
Dense metal
warhead
114
1000 lb GBU-32
dense or ballasted
penetrator
F22, JSF
F-15, F-16, F117
B-1, B-2, B-522
Dense metal case
or dense metal
ballast for maximum
penetration
115
1000 lb penetrator
with precursor in
GBU-32. Multistage
warhead:
F22
shaped charges with
follow through
penetrator. (see
BROACH)
158
LODIS/SWAK/DASS/
Boosted Penetrator.
High leverage
munitions, mini
missiles, Small Smart
Bomb 250 lb.
Potential payload for
Tomahawk
High density
payloads. Same
penetration
capabilities as a
2000 lb BLU-109
but with only 50 lb of
explosives.
169
JASSM (Joint
Air-to-Surface Missile)
P31 1000 lb
advanced penetrator.
The next generation
cruise missile.
B-52, F-16, F/A-18
B-1, B-2, F-15E,
F117
S3, P3, JSF
Dense metal case
or dense metal
ballast for maximum
penetration.
170
Unitary CALCM -
Block II (became
AGM-86D). Shaped
charge precursor.
Precision Strike
variant. Feasibility
concluded April 97.
FCT - UK BROACH
warhead .
B-52
Block II programme
incorporates a
penetrating
warhead.
506
AUP 1000 Advance
Unitary Penetrator.
2000 lb class
penetrator
Replaces BLU-109.
Option to BROACH
for CALCM
B-52
Applications
requiring increased
penetration.
510
JASSM w/multistage
warhead GBU-32.
Develops the
BROACH warhead for
possible use on
numerous platforms.
Multiple
Dual stage, shaped
charge with
follow-through
penetrator.
WPNS104 -- 20,000 Pound Direct Strike hard Target Weapon
DESCRIPTION:
This concept is a 20,000 lb. class precision guided,
adverse
weather, direct attack bomb employed on the B-52 and B-2
aircraft.
It will make use of the GCU developed by the JDAM program
which
uses GPS aided INS for adverse weather guidance. Precision
accuracy
will be attained by using differential GPS (DGPS) technology
demonstrated
on programs such as Enhanced Differential GPS for
Guidance
Enhancement (EDGE) and Miniature Munition Technology
Demonstration
(MMTD). The weapon will make use of the JDAM interface
under
development for the B-52 and B-2 aircraft and would be carried
internally
using new suspension hardware within the bay. The warhead
will
be a 20,000 lb. penetrator with dense metal ballast. This
concept
uses the Hard Target Smart Fuze (HTSF), an
accelerometer
based electronic fuze which allows control of the
detonation
point by layer counting, distance or time. The
accelerometer
senses G loads on the bomb due to deceleration as
it
penetrates through to the target. The fuze can distinguish between
earth,
concrete, rock and air.
WPNS113 -- 2250 lb Boosted Penetrator
DESCRIPTION:
The boosted penetrator is based on achieving
maximum
penetration without sacrificing operational flexibility. Total
system
weight will be less than 2,250 pounds so that it can be
carried
by all AF tactical aircraft and bombers as well as the Navy’s
F/A-18.
The goal is to achieve greater penetration than the GBU-28
with
a near term, affordable design. A dense metal warhead will be
used
with a wraparound rocket motor to allow internal carriage in
the
F-117. Advanced explosives will be used to compensate for the
reduced
charge weight. This concept integrates the boosted
penetrator
warhead with a JDAM guidance kit with an adverse
weather
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). JDAM utilizes a GPS
aided
INS packaged in a tailkit for accurate navigation and
guidance
in adverse weather and other battlefield obscurants. The
SAR
seeker mitigates target location errors and GPS errors
improving
overall system accuracy. Employing the seeker also
gives
JDAM a capability against the GPS jamming threat. JDAM is
an
autonomous direct attack weapon integrated on F-16 C/D,
F/A-18
C/D, B-52, F-117, and B-2 aircraft with plans for integration
on
F-15E and B-1. It is capable of inflight (in route to target area)
retargeting
and engagement of both horizontal and vertical targets.
This
concept uses the Hard Target Smart Fuze (HTSF), an
accelerometer
based electronic fuze which allows control of the
detonation
point by layer counting, distance or time. The
accelerometer
senses G loads on the bomb due to deceleration as
it
penetrates through to the target. The fuze can distinguish between
earth,
concrete, rock and air.
WPNS114 -- 1000 lb Dense or Ballasted Penetrator in GBU-32
DESCRIPTION:
This concept is a 1000 pound dense or ballasted
penetrator
integrated with a GBU-32 guidance kit using
compressed
carriage for internal carriage in advanced fighters
(F-22,
JSF) or carriage in cruise missiles (JASSM, CALCM, ACM,
ATACMS,
Tomahawk.) The warhead would either be designed with
a
dense metal case or contain dense metal ballast for maximum
penetration.
The warhead will be filled with an advanced insensitive
explosive
to compensate for the reduced charge weight. The
warhead
will be integrated with the GBU-32, the JDAM tail kit for
1,000
lb class warheads. JDAM utilizes a GPS aided INS
packaged
in a tailkit for accurate navigation and guidance in
adverse
weather and other battlefield obscurants, day or night
operations.
JDAM is capable of inflight (in route to target area)
retargeting
and engagement of both horizontal and vertical targets.
This
weapon is designed for internal carriage on the F-22. It is also
compatible
with the following aircraft: F-15E, F-16, F-117, JSF, B-1,
B-2,
B-52H, F-14, F/A-18, S3, P3, AV-8B. This concept uses the
Hard
Target Smart Fuze (HTSF), an accelerometer based
electronic
fuze which allows control of the detonation point by layer
counting,
distance or time. The accelerometer senses G loads on
the
bomb due to deceleration as it penetrates through to the target.
The
fuze can distinguish between earth, concrete, rock and air.
WPNS115 -- 1000 lb Penetrator with Precursor in GBU-32
DESCRIPTION:
This concept is a 1000 pound multistage warhead
involving
two shaped charges with a follow through penetrator
warhead.
The warhead will be integrated with the GBU-32, the
JDAM
tail kit for 1,000 lb. class warheads. JDAM utilizes a GPS
aided
INS packaged in a tailkit for accurate navigation and
guidance
in adverse weather and other battlefield obscurants, day
or
night operations. JDAM is capable of inflight (in route to target
area)
retargeting and engagement of both horizontal and vertical
targets.
This weapon is designed for internal carriage on the F-22. It
is
also compatible with the following aircraft: F-15E, F-16, F-117,
JSF,
B-1, B-2, B-52H, F-14, F/A-18, S3, P3, AV-8B. This concept
uses
the Hard Target Smart Fuze (HTSF), an accelerometer based
electronic
fuze which allows control of the detonation point by layer
counting,
distance or time. The accelerometer senses G loads on
the
bomb due to deceleration as it penetrates through to the target.
The
fuze can distinguish between earth, concrete, rock and air.
WPNS158 -- LODIS/SWAK/DASSL/Boosted Penetrator
DESCRIPTION:
The High Leverage Munitions (HLM) concepts are
a
class of next generation weapons designed to efficiently package
small,
highly lethal mini missiles of the future. They employ direct
dispense
technology being developed under WL/MN Low Cost
Dispensing
(LODIS) program as a means of high density loadouts
for
both internal and external carriage. This low observable/low drag
container
is capable of incremental or salvo dispensing and has
virtual
interface capability. Air bags are used to eject the mini
missiles.
The dispenser serves as a shipping/stores container.
Electrical
interface to the mini missiles is made via a single 1553
bus.
This concept integrates Small Smart Bombs with LODIS for
attacking
fixed targets. The Small Smart Bomb is a 250 pound
weapon
that has the same penetration capabilities as a 2000lb
BLU-109,
but with only 50 pounds of explosive. With the INS/GPS
guidance
in conjunction with differential GPS (using all 12 channel
receivers,
instead of only 5) corrections provided by GPS SPO
Accuracy
Improvement Initiative (AII) and improved Target Location
Error
(TLE), it can achieve a 5-8m CEP. The submunition, with a
smart
fuze, has been extensively tested against multi-layered
targets
by Wright Laboratory under the Hard Target Ordnance
Program
and Miniature Munitions Technology Program. The length
to
diameter ratio and nose shape are designed to optimize
penetration
for a 50lb charge. This weapon is also a potential
payload
for standoff carrier vehicles such as Tomahawk, JSOW,
JASSM,
Conventional ICBM, etc. This concept upgrades the SSB
to
add a low cost solid state LADAR (LASER RADAR), which is a
terminal,
autonomous seeker that is used in the guidance near the
end
of flight in order to take out the Target Location Error. This
seeker
is based on the Wright Lab Demonstration of Advanced
Solid
State LADAR (DASSL) program. The LADAR will provide a
three
dimensional image of the target. Coupled with INS/GPS
during
the midcourse guidance, this terminal seeker can reduce the
CEP
to <3m. This concept incorporates a solid rocket motor to
increase
the impact velocity of the SSB which will result in
increased
penetration performance. Two designs are under
investigation;
one with an inline motor and the other with a wrap
around
rocket motor to minimize total weapon length. The inline
design
was extensively tested against multi-layered targets during
WL
Hard Target Ordnance Program.
WPNS169 -- JASSM P3I Penetrator
DESCRIPTION:
This concept is a P3I to the Joint Air-to-Surface
Standoff
Missile (JASSM) to replace the baseline warhead with an
advanced
penetrator that meets or exceeds the objective
penetration
requirement specified in the JASSM Operational
Requirements
Document (ORD) and to add a synthetic aperture
radar
(SAR) seeker for adverse weather precision attack capability.
JASSM
is the next generation cruise missile to destroy the enemies
war-sustaining
capabilities outside the ranges of the area air
defenses.
The Standoff capability allows us to target key enemy
centers
of gravity without putting the warfighter in harms way, well
beyond
the range of current assets. The warhead concept is a 1000
pound
dense or ballasted penetrator. The warhead would either be
designed
with a dense metal case or contain dense metal ballast
for
maximum penetration. The warhead will be filled with advanced
insensitive
explosive to compensate for the reduced charge weight.
The
JASSM will be compatible with the B-52, F-16, F/A-18
(threshold),
B-1, B-2, F-15E, F-117, S3, P3 and JSF (objective).
This
concept uses the Hard Target Smart Fuze (HTSF), an
accelerometer
based electronic fuze which allows control of the
detonation
point by layer counting, distance or time. The
accelerometer
senses G loads on the bomb due to deceleration as
it
penetrates through to the target. The fuze can distinguish between
earth,
concrete, rock and air.
WPNS170--UNITARY
CALCM--BLOCKII with Shaped Charge
Precursor
DESCRIPTION:
The Conventional Air Launched Cruise Missile
(CALCM)
is a highly affordable, very long range standoff missile
which
is produced by modifying surplus AGM 86B, Air Launched
Cruise
Missiles (ALCM). The CALCM Block I missile, currently in
production,
incorporates a 3000 LB Class blast fragmentation
warhead
and Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for
navigation.
The Block I system, when launched from CONUS based
B-52
aircraft is highly effective against soft, above ground targets
like
Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM) or radar sites. The Block II
program
is the Precision Strike variant of CALCM. It incorporates a
penetrating
warhead, updated state of the art, near-precision, GPS
guidance,
and a modified terminal area flight profile to maximize the
effectiveness
of the warhead. The penetrating warhead is
augmented
with two forward shape charges. To maximize the
warheads
effectiveness against hardened targets, the Block II will
maneuver
and dive onto its target in a near vertical orientation. The
updated
guidance system will increase the systems lethality by
obtaining
a less than 5 meter CEP.
The
Precision Strike variant of CALCM was successfully
demonstrated
in December 1996. A CALCM modified with a new
precision
GPS implementation flew for 4.5 hours, performed a
newly
developed steep terminal dive, and impacted the target within
2.5
meters of the aim point. The demonstration clearly showed that
CALCM
is capable of delivering it’s warhead with precision
accuracy
from extremely long standoff ranges.
A feasibility
study was concluded in April 1997, in which it was
determined
the BROACH Warhead on CALCM would offer very
significant
hard target capabilities. Foreign Comparative Test
(FCT)
funds have been provided by DoD for a demonstration of the
UK’s
BROACH Warhead. The FCT will conclude in early 1998.
The
current Block II program is structured for EMD to begin in first
quarter
FY99 with missile production to commence in third quarter
FY00.
Total procurement is for 130 missiles.
JUSTIFICATION:
This
program will provide the warfighter a hard and deeply buried
target
defeat capability from outside theater defenses. The Block II
CALCM
will be capable of holding at risk high priority assets
essential
to the enemy’s warfighting ability. The system can
prosecute
these target from standoff ranges well outside theater
defenses
thereby ensuring deploying aircraft are not placed in
harms
way.
PROGRAM ELEMENT: PE 27323F
ISSUES:
* Air
Staff, XORBP, is working a ZBT initiative to move the $9.4
million
of FY00 RDT&E funds to the 3020 procurement line to fill the
$18.5
million requirement.
** Quantities are based on a maximum procurement cost of $372K.
REFERENCES: (Provide the following information, if relevant.)
MNS Number & Title: ORD Number & Title:
CAF (SAC 010-88) -I/II/III-A
FOR CALCM, ACAT III
1067 Number & Title: Development Plan Date & Title:
Current CINC IPL:
ACC
PEM Name: MR. MIKE BATA, DRPW, x5270 PEM Backup
Name:
MAJ ROSS, x3857
WPNS506 -- AUP 1000 pound Warhead Development
DESCRIPTION:
Advanced Unitary Penetrator (AUP) is a 2000lb
class
penetrator warhead intended as an upgrade/replacement for
the
BLU-109 warhead in applications requiring increased
penetration.
The AUP is designed to provide increased penetration
capability
over the BLU-109 warhead while maintaining the same
overall
weight, mass properties, dimensions, and physical
interfaces
associated with the BLU-109. This warhead is
compatible
with the Hard Target Smart Fuze (HTSF) or the Joint
Programmable
Fuze (JPF). The HTSF is an accelerometer based
electronic
fuze which allows control of the detonation point by layer
counting,
distance or time. The accelerometer senses G loads on
the
bomb due to deceleration as it penetrates through to the target.
The
fuze can distinguish between earth, concrete, rock and air.
WPNS510 -- JASSM w/multi-Stage Warhead, GBU-32
DESCRIPTION:
Program develops the BROACH warhead for
possible
use on numerous platforms. BROACH is a dual stage,
shaped
charge with a follow through penetrator.
ANNEX
F Common Solution/Concept List (U)
[as
of 11 July 1997 - Rev 10]
http://fas.org/man/dod-101/usaf/docs/mast/annex_f/index.html
Related sources
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/smart/index.html
http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/smart/agm-86c.htm - AGM-86C/D
http://www.af.mil/news/factsheets/GBU_15.html - variant BLU 109
http://www.af.mil/news/factsheets/AGM_65_Maverick.html
- variants
E/F/G/K
300 lb
http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/1999/news_release_991202o.htm
-
Boeing chooses UAP9 for AGM-86D