AirtoSpace AntiSatellite Missile

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Air-to-Space Anti-Satellite Missile
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Outline

• Relevance
• Development History
• Description
• Testing
• Deployment

3
Relevance

• USCINCSPACE Space Control mission
• "Ensure unimpeded US and Allied access to and use
  of space while denying the same to an adversary."
  

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ASAT Development History

• Bold Orion 1959
• SAINT Program 1959 - 1962
• Nike-Zeus (ASAT) 1964
• Program 437 1963 - 1970
• Miniature Homing Vehicle 1979 - 1988

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Description

• Vought ASM-135A
• Two Stage Rocket Booster
• AGM-69 SRAM-A
• Altair III Rocket
• 2700 Pounds (1224 kg)
• 18 Feet Long (6.1 m)
• Miniature Homing Vehicle
• Infrared Seeker Guidance
• Kinetic Kill

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Testing
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Target
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Deployment

• Original Concept called for 20 Fighter Force
• 500M became 1.6B
• Scaled back by 2/3
• Congress did not fund in 1986
• USAF Canceled in 1988

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Sources of Additional Information

• Vought Web Site
• Russians Alter MiG-31 for ASAT Carrier Roles,
  Aviation Week and Space Technology, 17 August
  1992,p.63.
• Program 437
• USAF SMC