Precision Attack Air-to-Surface Missile
Encyclopedia
The Precision Attack Air-to-Surface Missile (PAASM) is a weapon system currently under development by Raytheon
which is designed to defeat armored vehicles, buildings, hardened bunker
s and small naval targets. The missile uses technology developed for the Joint Common Missile (JCM) and Precision Attack Missile (PAM) programs.
Raytheon
Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
which is designed to defeat armored vehicles, buildings, hardened bunker
Bunker
A military bunker is a hardened shelter, often buried partly or fully underground, designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks...
s and small naval targets. The missile uses technology developed for the Joint Common Missile (JCM) and Precision Attack Missile (PAM) programs.
Specifications
- Length: 63-66 in.
- Diameter: 7 in.
- Weight: 115-120 lb.
- Range: 20+ km.
- Guidance: Tri-Mode millimeter wave (MMW) active radar homingActive radar homingActive radar homing is a missile guidance method in which a guided missile contains a radar transceiver and the electronics necessary for it to find and track its target autonomously...
, imaging infraredInfrared homingInfrared homing refers to a passive missile guidance system which uses the emission from a target of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared part of the spectrum to track and follow it. Missiles which use infrared seeking are often referred to as "heat-seekers", since infrared is just below the...
(IIR) and semi-active laser (SAL) seeker.
Program status
- December 2005 - Successful test firing from rotary-wing UAVUnmanned aerial vehicleAn unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
.