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| AGM-131 SRAM II | |
|---|---|
 Casing of a AGM-131 at theNational Museum of the United States Air Force | |
| Type | Nuclear air-to-surface missile |
| Place of origin | U.S. |
| Service history | |
| In service | Never used |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Boeing |
| Designed | 1986 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 900 kg (2,000 lb) |
| Length | 318 cm (125 in) |
| length | 123 cm (48 in) |
| Diameter | 39cm |
| Warhead | nuclear warhead |
| Propellant | Solid-fueled rocket |
Launch platform | Aircraft |
TheAGM-131 SRAM II ("Short-Range Attack Missile") was anuclear-tippedair-to-surface missile intended as a replacement for theAGM-69 SRAM. The solid-fueled missile was to be dropped from aB-1B Lancer, carry theW89 warhead and have a range of 400 km. However, the program was cancelled by PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush for geopolitical reasons just as the first flight-test missile was delivered.
The mission of the SRAM family is to deliver thewarhead to the target without the need for the penetratingbomber to directly overfly the target. The SRAM family of weapons had an extremely small radar signature and were near-impossible to counter. SRAM ensured the airborne leg of the US nuclear triad (the others being land-basedICBMs andSLBM) and was the penetrating air launched strategic nuclear weapon for theB-1 Lancer andB-2 Spirit.
In 1977, theUSAF planned to develop an upgrade of the SRAM for the forthcoming B-1A bomber as AGM-69B SRAM B. When the B-1A was cancelled in 1978, the AGM-69B was dropped, too. After the resurrection of the B-1 program (as B-1B) in 1981, it was decided to develop an entirely new weapon, the SRAM II.
In 1986,Boeing was finally awarded a development contract for the AGM-131A SRAM II. The AGM-131A was planned to have only about 2/3 the size of an AGM-69A, so that 36 missiles could be carried by the B-1B, as compared to 24 AGM-69As. The final design of the SRAM II ended up with the "II" version roughly equal to the "A" version in size and about 80% of the weight. One new feature of SRAM II was a lighter, simpler, and more reliable two-pulse solid rocket motor designed by Hercules for increased range and age stability.
The SRAM II was slated to use the newly developedW89 thermonuclear warhead, which being much newer, was also much safer to operate than the W-69 of the AGM-69. The W89 had a 200kiloton design yield.
Initial Operational Capability for the AGM-131A was planned for 1993, but before flight tests could take place, the program was cancelled in 1991.
The SRAM II air vehicle was also the basis for a tactical nuclear variant - the SRAM T which employed a different warhead, theW91 thermonuclear warhead, with a selectable yield from 10 to 100 kilotons. It had a longer range than the baseline SRAM II, around 250 miles (approximately 400 kilometers). As a NATO theater nuclear weapon, SRAM-T was to be carried by theF-15E andF-111, but it was also compatible with theF-16 and theTornado. Deployment was planned for 1995.
Both SRAM II and SRAM T were canceled in September 1991 by President George H.W. Bush, along with the W89 and W91 warheads.
Data from designation-systems.net[1]