Longbow (ALBM)

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Longbow
Basic blueprint of the Longbow
TypeAir-launched ballistic missile intended for use as an anti-radar and ultra long-range air-to-air missile
Place of originUnited States of America
Service history
In serviceDevelopment began in the 1970s and was ultimately cancelled in the early 1980s
Production history
ManufacturerNone selected
No. builtUnknown, possibly none
Specifications
EngineUnknown; Speculated to be a two-stage system
PropellantMulti-stage rocket
Operational
range
Up to 2,300 mi (3,700 km)
Maximum speed At least 2,600 mph (4,200 km/h) (Mach 3.5)
Guidance
system
Unknown; Presumed to utilize a passive radiation-seeker plus some form of mid-course guidance such as Navstar (GPS)
Launch
platform
Strategic bombers
Not to be confused with the AGM-114L Longbow nor the WS-121B Longbow.

The Longbow air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) was a 1970s attempt by the United States Air Force to create an ALBM which could be carried and launched by strategic bombers, such as the B-52 Stratofortress or a dedicated "cruise missile carrying aircraft." Intended to serve as both an air-to-ground and ultra-long range air-to-air missile, the Longbow was ultimately cancelled in the early 1980s.

Development

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USAF concept art of a "Cruise Missile Carrying Aircraft" (CMCA) launching air-launched ballistic missiles or cruise missiles, possibly Longbow missiles

The Longbow was a very long-range air-launched missile planned to be carried by the B-52 Stratofortress;[1][2] It could be equipped with either conventional or nuclear warheads, with the B-52 being capable of carrying up to 16 at one time.[3] The missile was allegedly capable of engaging both ground and air targets[4] and would have had a range of up to 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometres),[5] though it is unclear how such a missile would have been guided against targets (particularly aerial targets) out to such ranges.[6] Speculation of guidance mechanics included the use of Navstar satellites coupled with various seekers for the terminal phase.[7] The Longbow would likely loft to extremely high-altitudes (where drag would be minimal) to attain its extreme ranges.[8]

The Longbow would have likely utilized a two-stage engine system,[9] was roughly 20 feet (6.1 metres) long, and weighed around 4,000–5,000 pounds (1,800–2,300 kilograms).[10]

The Longbow ALBM was distinct from the 1960s WS-121B Longbow, though both missiles were air-to-ground/air-to-air capable and both were intended to be launched from large airframes.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Ropelewski, Robert R. (29 January 1979). "Two New Ballistic Missiles Scrutinized". Aviation Week & Space Technology. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. p. 101. Longbow is intended for aerial launch from bombers to aid the aircraft in negotiating enemy air defenses.
  2. ^ Parsch, Andreas (9 January 2003). "Radioplane B-67/GAM-67 Crossbow". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles Appendix 1: Early Missiles and Drones. Designation-Systems. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
  3. ^ Ropelewski, Robert R. (29 January 1979). "Two New Ballistic Missiles Scrutinized". Aviation Week & Space Technology. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. p. 102. […]and the B-52 could carry between 12–16 of them.
  4. ^ Ropelewski, Robert R. (29 January 1979). "Two New Ballistic Missiles Scrutinized". Aviation Week & Space Technology. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. p. 101. Both companies are now studying the air-to-air version of the weapon [...] In using Longbow against aerial targets the service still must determine the terminal seeker to home on aircraft.
  5. ^ Ropelewski, Robert R. (29 January 1979). "Two New Ballistic Missiles Scrutinized". Aviation Week & Space Technology. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. p. 102. The strategic Longbow missile would have 15–20% more range because of starting from an aerial platform – about 2,000 naut. mi.
  6. ^ Leone, Dario (8 December 2024). "The B-52 with the Longbow long-range air-to-air ballistic missile aimed to take out multiple aircraft that never was". The Aviation Geek Club. Dario Leone. Archived from the original on 29 July 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025. Launch trajectory for both roles would involve the missile lofting above the atmosphere; much of the distance travelled would be in space with no meaningful drag. The anti-air version would[... use] an undefined seeker system to hunt down its targets.
  7. ^ Ropelewski, Robert R. (29 January 1979). "Two New Ballistic Missiles Scrutinized". Aviation Week & Space Technology. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. p. 101. USAF officials are convinced that technology is available to perfect air launched ballistic missile weapons, but accuracy of such a system must be further addressed. A midcourse update is required, and the Navstar global positioning satellite is one possible solution for updates of both the carrier aircraft and the missile after launch. Terminal sensors also are possible[...]
  8. ^ Leone, Dario (8 December 2024). "The B-52 with the Longbow long-range air-to-air ballistic missile aimed to take out multiple aircraft that never was". The Aviation Geek Club. Dario Leone. Archived from the original on 29 July 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025. Launch trajectory for both roles would involve the missile lofting above the atmosphere; much of the distance travelled would be in space with no meaningful drag.
  9. ^ Ropelewski, Robert R. (29 January 1979). "Two New Ballistic Missiles Scrutinized". Aviation Week & Space Technology. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. p. 101. The weapon is conceptually designed as a two-stage missile[...]
  10. ^ Ropelewski, Robert R. (29 January 1979). "Two New Ballistic Missiles Scrutinized". Aviation Week & Space Technology. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. p. 101. The weapon is[...] about 20 ft. long with a weight of 4,000 to 5,000 lb.[...]
  11. ^ Roosevelt, Edith Kermit (18 April 1963). "Pentagon's Human Computors". The Eagle-Bulletin and Dewitt News-Times. Vol. 77–5, no. 16. Fayetteville,NY: Wobo Corp. p. 5. Archived from the original on 16 October 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2025. [...T]he radar-seeking missile WS-121B[...] [...]would enable [the U.S.] to destroy the radar on Soviet offensive and defensive systems[...]