UGM-89 Perseus
Encyclopedia
The UGM-89 Perseus was a proposed U.S. Navy submarine-launched
anti-ship (AShM)
and anti-submarine (ASW)
cruise missile
that was developed under the Submarine Tactical Missile (STAM) project, which was also referred to as the Submarine Anti-ship Weapon System (STAWS). This missile system was to be the centerpiece for a proposed third-generation nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine championed by then-Vice Admiral
Hyman G. Rickover
, the influential but controversial head of the Navy's nuclear propulsion program
.
responded to this proposal, which included the formation of an undersea warfare program organization in Sunnyvale, California
. It is unclear if this was to be an entirely new organization or part of the Lockheed Underwater Missile Facility (LUMF) which had been responsible for the design and development of the Polaris, Poseidon, and Trident
submarine-launched strategic ballistic missile (SLBM) systems
for the U.S. Navy. In February 1970, the missile designation
ZUGM-89A Perseus was reserved for the U.S. Navy presumably for the STAM/STAWS missile development program.
s, but would be carried in a vertical launch system (VLS) housed within the proposed cruise missile submarine's hull. Twenty VLS tubes would be located in a separate compartment situated between the submarine's operations and reactor compartments. The individual launcher tube would be 30 x 300 inches (76.2 x 762 cm) in dimension. The missile warhead payload would be a new 21-inch (533 mm) diameter homing torpedo to be developed concurrently with the UGM-89 Perseus missile. .
By 1971, the STAM project had evolved into a long-range advanced cruise missile (ACM) program capable of undertaking a variety of combat missions, including strategic nuclear strike (see table below). The proposed ACM versions of the UGM-89 Perseus STAM would use a slightly enlarged launch tube (40 x 400 inches, or 101.6 x 1016 cm), and 1979 would have been the date for its initial operational capability (IOC)
.
, which would subsequently carry both the Harpoon
and Tomahawk
cruise missiles. The AWS component of the UGM-89 Perseus would later serve as the baseline for the proposed Sea Lance stand-off ASW missile system.
Submarine-launched missile
A submarine-launched missile is a guided missile fired from a submarine. Some SMs are placed in launch capsules to be fired through the submarine's torpedo tubes. These missiles are initially solid-propellant motor-driven, and once clear of the water ignite their booster motor...
anti-ship (AShM)
Anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming type, many use a combination of inertial guidance and radar homing...
and anti-submarine (ASW)
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
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...
that was developed under the Submarine Tactical Missile (STAM) project, which was also referred to as the Submarine Anti-ship Weapon System (STAWS). This missile system was to be the centerpiece for a proposed third-generation nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine championed by then-Vice Admiral
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
Hyman G. Rickover
Hyman G. Rickover
Hyman George Rickover was a four-star admiral of the United States Navy who directed the original development of naval nuclear propulsion and controlled its operations for three decades as director of Naval Reactors...
, the influential but controversial head of the Navy's nuclear propulsion program
Naval Reactors
Naval Reactors is an umbrella term for the U.S. government office that has comprehensive responsibility for the continued safe and reliable operation of the United States Navy's nuclear propulsion program and thus for United States Naval reactors...
.
Development
The Navy issued the STAM requirement in March 1969, and the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company (LMSC)Lockheed Martin Space Systems
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company is one of the four major business divisions of Lockheed Martin. It is headquartered in Denver, Colorado with additional sites in Sunnyvale, California; Newtown, Pennsylvania; Huntsville, Alabama; and elsewhere in the US and UK...
responded to this proposal, which included the formation of an undersea warfare program organization in Sunnyvale, California
Sunnyvale, California
Sunnyvale is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. It is one of the major cities that make up the Silicon Valley located in the San Francisco Bay Area...
. It is unclear if this was to be an entirely new organization or part of the Lockheed Underwater Missile Facility (LUMF) which had been responsible for the design and development of the Polaris, Poseidon, and Trident
Trident missile
The Trident missile is a submarine-launched ballistic missile equipped with multiple independently-targetable reentry vehicles . The Fleet Ballistic Missile is armed with nuclear warheads and is launched from nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines . Trident missiles are carried by fourteen...
submarine-launched strategic ballistic missile (SLBM) systems
Submarine-launched ballistic missile
A submarine-launched ballistic missile is a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead that can be launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles each of which carries a warhead and allows a single launched missile to...
for the U.S. Navy. In February 1970, the missile designation
Missile designation
The U.S. Department of Defense established a missile and rocket designation sequence, which is used in all weapons of the kind produced in the USA.-Explanation:The basic designation of every guided missile is based in a set of letters, which are in sequence...
ZUGM-89A Perseus was reserved for the U.S. Navy presumably for the STAM/STAWS missile development program.
Design overview
Because of its large size, the UGM-89 Perseus missile could not be launched from the Navy's standard 21-inch (533 mm) submarine torpedo tubeTorpedo tube
A torpedo tube is a device for launching torpedoes. There are two main types of torpedo tube: underwater tubes fitted to submarines and some surface ships, and deck-mounted units installed aboard surface vessels...
s, but would be carried in a vertical launch system (VLS) housed within the proposed cruise missile submarine's hull. Twenty VLS tubes would be located in a separate compartment situated between the submarine's operations and reactor compartments. The individual launcher tube would be 30 x 300 inches (76.2 x 762 cm) in dimension. The missile warhead payload would be a new 21-inch (533 mm) diameter homing torpedo to be developed concurrently with the UGM-89 Perseus missile. .
By 1971, the STAM project had evolved into a long-range advanced cruise missile (ACM) program capable of undertaking a variety of combat missions, including strategic nuclear strike (see table below). The proposed ACM versions of the UGM-89 Perseus STAM would use a slightly enlarged launch tube (40 x 400 inches, or 101.6 x 1016 cm), and 1979 would have been the date for its initial operational capability (IOC)
Initial operating capability
Initial operating capability or Initial operational capability is the state achieved when a capability is available in its minimum usefully deployable form. The term is often used in government or military procurement....
.
| 1971 ACM Alternatives | Subsonic Anti-ship/ASW | Supersonic Anti-ship/ASW | Strategic Nuclear Strike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 34 x 336 inches (86.36 x 853.4 cm) | 34 x 340 inches (86.36 x 863.6 cm) | 34 x 336 inches (86.36 x 853.4 cm) |
| Overall launch weight | 8,600 lbs. (3,900.9 kg) | 11,420 lbs. (5,180.0 kg) | 9,950 lbs. (4,13.2 kg) |
| Without booster | 6,183 lbs. (2,804.6 kg) | 7.519 lbs. (3,410.6 kg) | ——— |
| Warhead | 1,000 lb. armour piercing (453.6 kg) | 700 lb. (317.6 kg) | 260 lb. (117.9 kg) |
| Speed | Mach 0.8 (609 mph or 980 km/h) | Mach 2.0 (1,522 mph or 2450 km/h) | Mach 0.8 (609 mph or 980 km/h) |
| Range | 400 nm (740.8 km) | 400 nm (740.8 km) | 1800 nm (3,333.6 km) |
Cancellation
The UGM-89 Perseus missile system was cancelled in 1973, and its proposed nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine platform was officially cancelled in 1974, with the Navy deciding to build the less expensive Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarinesLos Angeles class submarine
The Los Angeles class, sometimes called the LA class or the 688 class, is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines that forms the backbone of the United States submarine fleet. With 43 submarines on active duty and 19 retired, the Los Angeles class is the most numerous nuclear powered...
, which would subsequently carry both the Harpoon
Boeing Harpoon
The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas . In 2004, Boeing delivered the 7,000th Harpoon unit since the weapon's introduction in 1977...
and Tomahawk
BGM-109 Tomahawk
The Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a surface platform. It has been improved several times and, by way of corporate divestitures...
cruise missiles. The AWS component of the UGM-89 Perseus would later serve as the baseline for the proposed Sea Lance stand-off ASW missile system.
See also
- BGM-109 TomahawkBGM-109 TomahawkThe Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a surface platform. It has been improved several times and, by way of corporate divestitures...
- RUR-5 ASROCASROCASROC is an all-weather, all sea-conditions anti-submarine missile system. Developed by the United States Navy in the 1950s, it was deployed in the 1960s, updated in the 1990s, and eventually installed on over 200 USN surface ships, specifically cruisers, destroyers, and frigates...
- UGM-84 HarpoonBoeing HarpoonThe Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas . In 2004, Boeing delivered the 7,000th Harpoon unit since the weapon's introduction in 1977...
- UUM-44 SUBROCUUM-44 SUBROCThe UUM-44 SUBROC was a type of submarine-launched rocket deployed by the United States Navy as an anti-submarine weapon.-Development:...
- UUM-125 Sea Lance
External links
- UGM-89 Perseus - Directory of US Military Rockets and Missiles
- UGM-89 Perseus - Harpoon series
- UGM-89 Perseus - Encyclopedia AstronauticaEncyclopedia AstronauticaThe Encyclopedia Astronautica is a reference web site on space travel. A comprehensive catalog of vehicles, technology, astronauts, and flights, it includes information from most countries that have had an active rocket research program, from Robert Goddard to the NASA Space shuttle to the Soviet...
- Missile Design Series - GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...
- "Lockheed's Tactical Undersea Missile" - Flight InternationalFlight InternationalFlight International is a global aerospace weekly publication produced in the UK. Founded in 1909, it is the world's oldest continuously published aviation news magazine...
- May 29, 1969