Iron-Eagles>Western Block>Air
Launched Weapons>AGM-130
AGM-130 TV/IR Guided Missile
Mission
The AGM-130 is a powered air-to-surface missile designed for high- and
low-altitude strikes at standoff ranges against a variety of targets.
Features
Carrying forward the modular concept of the GBU-15 guided weapon system, the
AGM-130 employs a rocket motor for extended range and an altimeter for altitude
control. The AGM-130 provides a significantly increased standoff range than the
GBU-15. The AGM-130 has to two variants, based on the warhead. The AGM-130A is a
MK-84 blast/fragmentation warhead and the AGM-130C is a BLU-109 penetrator.
The AGM-130 is equipped with either a television or an imaging infrared
seeker and data link. The seeker provides the launch aircraft a visual
presentation of the target as seen from the weapon. During free flight this
presentation is transmitted by the AXQ-14 data-link system to the aircraft
cockpit monitor.
The seeker can be either locked onto the target before or after launch for
automatic weapon guidance, or it can be manually steered by a weapon systems
officer. Manual steering is performed through the two-way data link.
The AGM-130 is designed for use in the F-15E aircraft. Development of the
AGM-130 began in 1984 as a product improvement of the GBU-15 guided glide bomb.
Background
For the primary mode of operation, the aircraft flies to a pre-briefed launch
position. The survivability of aircraft and crew is enhanced by launching the
weapon at low altitude and significant standoff range, thus avoiding detection
by enemy air defenses. After launch, the weapon flies through
glide-powered-glide phases toward the target area with midcourse guidance
updates provided by global positioning system (GPS) navigational information or
by the weapon systems officer through the data link.
Upon termination of the powered flight phase the rocket motor is ejected. As
the target comes into view, the weapon systems officer has dual flexibility in
guiding the weapon via the data link. For automatic terminal homing, the
guidance tracker is locked on target but can be manually updated for precision
bombing. When total manual guidance is used, the operator manually guides the
weapon to the target aimpoint. For those aircraft not equipped with a data-link
pod, the weapon may be launched in the direct attack mode.
The first unit was operational in 1994.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Air-to-surface guided and powered bomb
Contractor: Boeing Co.
Thrust: Classified
Length: 12 feet, 10.5 inches (3.90 meters)
Launch Weight: 2,917 pounds (1,312.65 kilograms)
Diameter: 18 inches (45.72 centimeters)
Wingspan: 59 inches (149.86 centimeters)
Range: Classified
Ceiling: 30,000-plus feet (9,091 meters)
Speed: Classified
Guidance System: television or imaging infrared seeker
Date Deployed: 1994
Unit Cost: Approximately $450,000 per weapon
