LIM-49A Spartan
Encyclopedia
The LIM-49A Spartan was a United States Army
anti-ballistic missile
, whose warheads were developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
. It was a three-stage, solid-fuel surface-to-air missile
that carried a W71
thermonuclear warhead
with a lethal radius of up to 30 miles (50 kilometers) to intercept incoming warheads at high altitude above the atmosphere. The missile was launched from an underground silo, and radio command guided. The warhead was designed to destroy incoming nuclear weapons by x-ray flux rather than by blast. This very kill mechanism was, however, a major cause contributing to the phase-out of nuclear-warheads in antiaircraft and anti-ballistic missile rockets - a high-altitude nuclear explosion produced a strong electromagnetic pulse
(EMP) that would destroy unshielded electronic devices, especially those working on the solid state component base, like transistors, integrated circuits etc.
The higher the integration and subtler the parts, the more damage EMP-induced currents would cause to circuitry, causing damage to computer
s, data and communication networks, power-generating plants and grids, air traffic control
systems, etc.
The Spartan missile was in operational service for only a few months, from October 1975 to early 1976. A combination of high costs and the SALT I
treaties made the missiles unpopular politically.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
anti-ballistic missile
Anti-ballistic missile
An anti-ballistic missile is a missile designed to counter ballistic missiles .A ballistic missile is used to deliver nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional warheads in a ballistic flight trajectory. The term "anti-ballistic missile" describes any antimissile system designed to counter...
, whose warheads were developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory , just outside Livermore, California, is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center founded by the University of California in 1952...
. It was a three-stage, solid-fuel surface-to-air missile
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
that carried a W71
W71
The W-71 nuclear warhead was a US thermonuclear warhead developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California and deployed on the LIM-49A Spartan Anti-ballistic missile...
thermonuclear warhead
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
with a lethal radius of up to 30 miles (50 kilometers) to intercept incoming warheads at high altitude above the atmosphere. The missile was launched from an underground silo, and radio command guided. The warhead was designed to destroy incoming nuclear weapons by x-ray flux rather than by blast. This very kill mechanism was, however, a major cause contributing to the phase-out of nuclear-warheads in antiaircraft and anti-ballistic missile rockets - a high-altitude nuclear explosion produced a strong electromagnetic pulse
Electromagnetic pulse
An electromagnetic pulse is a burst of electromagnetic radiation. The abrupt pulse of electromagnetic radiation usually results from certain types of high energy explosions, especially a nuclear explosion, or from a suddenly fluctuating magnetic field...
(EMP) that would destroy unshielded electronic devices, especially those working on the solid state component base, like transistors, integrated circuits etc.
The higher the integration and subtler the parts, the more damage EMP-induced currents would cause to circuitry, causing damage to computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s, data and communication networks, power-generating plants and grids, air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
systems, etc.
The Spartan missile was in operational service for only a few months, from October 1975 to early 1976. A combination of high costs and the SALT I
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty refers to two rounds of bilateral talks and corresponding international treaties involving the United States and the Soviet Union—the Cold War superpowers—on the issue of armament control. There were two rounds of talks and agreements: SALT I and SALT...
treaties made the missiles unpopular politically.
Survivors
- A Spartan missile is on display at the Air Defense Artillery Museum in Fort BlissFort BlissFort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...
, Texas.
See also
- Anti-ballistic missileAnti-ballistic missileAn anti-ballistic missile is a missile designed to counter ballistic missiles .A ballistic missile is used to deliver nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional warheads in a ballistic flight trajectory. The term "anti-ballistic missile" describes any antimissile system designed to counter...
- Surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
- Sprint (missile)Sprint (missile)The Sprint was a two-stage, solid-fuel anti-ballistic missile, armed with a W66 enhanced radiation thermonuclear warhead. It was designed as the short-range high-speed counterpart to the longer-range LIM-49 Spartan as part of the Sentinel program. Sentinel never became operational, but the...
- Nike-Hercules missile
- Nike Zeus
- Safeguard ProgramSafeguard ProgramThe Safeguard Program was a United States Army anti-ballistic missile system developed during the late 1960s. Safeguard was designed to protect U.S. ICBM missile sites from counterforce attack, thus preserving the option of an unimpeded retaliatory strike. Safeguard used much of the same technology...