Affordable Weapon System
Encyclopedia
The Affordable Weapon System is a US Navy
program to design and produce a low cost "off the shelf" cruise missile
launchable from a self contained unit mounted in a standard shipping container
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United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
program to design and produce a low cost "off the shelf" cruise missile
Cruise missile
A cruise missile is a guided missile that carries an explosive payload and is propelled, usually by a jet engine, towards a land-based or sea-based target. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high accuracy...
launchable from a self contained unit mounted in a standard shipping container
Intermodal container
An intermodal container is a standardized reusable steel box used for the safe, efficient and secure storage and movement of materials and products within a global containerized intermodal freight transport system...
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Specifications
- Length: (w/o booster): 3.32 m (10 ft 11 in)
- Diameter: 34.3 cm (13.5 in)
- Weight: 334 kg (737 lb)
- Speed: 400 km/h (250 mph)
- Ceiling: 4570 m (15000 ft)
- Range: > 1560 km (840 nm)
- Propulsion: Solid rocket boosterSolid rocket boosterSolid rocket boosters or Solid Rocket Motors, SRM, are used to provide thrust in spacecraft launches from the launchpad up to burnout of the SRBs. Many launch vehicles include SRBs, including the Ariane 5, Atlas V , and the NASA Space Shuttle...
and SWB Turbines SWB-65 turbojet sustainer. - Payload: 200 lbs.
- Guidance: GPS and in-flight datalink.
Program status
- April 2002 - International Systems LLC of San Diego, Calif. (subsidiary of Titan Corp.Titan Corp.Titan Corporation was a United States based company founded in 1981, with its headquartered in San Diego, California. It was acquired by L-3 Communications on June 3, 2005 and is currently operating as the "Titan Group" of L-3 Communications...
) awarded a $25,657,312 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for continuing development and implementation. - June 2005 - Titan awarded a $32.4 million contract modification to produce approximately 85 missiles for demonstration, test and evaluation. The contract also includes work for the AWS launcher design and ship integration.
- September 2005 - Titan awards contract for launch systems to BAE SystemsBAE SystemsBAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
. - July 2008 - DODUnited States Department of DefenseThe United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation budget earmarks $15,200,000 for program.