AGM-86 ALCM
Country of origin
United States
United States
ManufacturerBoeing
The AGM-86 ALCM is an American subsonic air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) built by Boeing and operated by the United States Air Force. This missile was developed to increase the effectiveness and survivability of the Boeing B-52G and B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers, allowing the aircraft to deliver its payload from a great distance. The missile hampers an enemy force's ability to respond and conduct air defense.
The concept started as a long-range drone aircraft that would act as a decoy, distracting Soviet air defenses from the bombers. As new lightweight nuclear weapons emerged in the 1960s, the design was modified with the intent of attacking missile and radar sites at the end of its flight. Further development extended its range so much that it emerged as a weapon allowing the B-52s to launch their attacks while still well outside Soviet airspace, saturating their defenses with hundreds of tiny, low-flying targets that were extremely difficult to see on radar.
Early tests of the missile took place between 1983-1993, during which time 23 cruise missiles were tested over northern Canada under the "Canada-U.S. Test and Evaluation Program". The goal of the program was to simulate...
The concept started as a long-range drone aircraft that would act as a decoy, distracting Soviet air defenses from the bombers. As new lightweight nuclear weapons emerged in the 1960s, the design was modified with the intent of attacking missile and radar sites at the end of its flight. Further development extended its range so much that it emerged as a weapon allowing the B-52s to launch their attacks while still well outside Soviet airspace, saturating their defenses with hundreds of tiny, low-flying targets that were extremely difficult to see on radar.
Early tests of the missile took place between 1983-1993, during which time 23 cruise missiles were tested over northern Canada under the "Canada-U.S. Test and Evaluation Program". The goal of the program was to simulate...
