SAR-776 Tomoe

SAR-776 Tomoe
File:SAR-776 Tomoe.png Several launch configurations of the SAR-776 Tomoe LRAAM.
Type	Long-range air-to-air and air to ground missile
Place of origin	Carthage
Service history
In service	1997-present
Used by	Carthage Gensokyo Republic Japan
Production history
Designer	North Iberian Electrical Systems
Designed	1994-1997
Manufacturer	North Iberian Electrical Systems
Unit cost	$1.5 million (FY2012)
Produced	1997-2007
No. built	7,200
Variants	SAR-776AM1
Specifications
Weight	630 kg (1,400 lb)
Length	6.0 m (20 ft) 7.4 m (24 ft) (w/booster)
Diameter	400 mm (16 in)
Warhead	50 kg (110 lb) annular blast fragmentation
Detonation mechanism	Active radar proximity fuse Backup impact fuse
Wingspan	600 mm (24 in)
Propellant	Dual-thrust solid rocket motor
Operational range	400 km (250 mi) (air-to-air) 460 km (290 mi) (air-to-ground)
Flight ceiling	30,000 m (98,000 ft)
Speed	4,000 km/h (2,500 mph)
Guidance system	Dual-band active radar homing Home-on-jam capability Inertial/GPS w/datalink
Launch platform	Multi-platform

The SAR-776 Tomoe is a heavy air-to-air missile in service with the Carthage Defense Forces. It is designed primarily to engage and destroy AWACS and C4ISTAR aircraft at long ranges, allowing the launch platform to remain safe from the target's escorts. Developed under the Affordable Anti-Radiation Missile (AARM) Program in the 1990s, it was developed to deliver a low-cost anti-AWACS capability and as a result is composed largely of recycled and repurposed components from other missile families. Originally developed as the Type-94, it was reclassified as the SAR-776 as part of the Millennium Inventory System. Due to its specialized role, it has had the most limited procurement of the SAR-77X series.

Development

Throughout the late 1970s and into the 1980s, the militaries of the European Liberation Treaty Organization and the Asian Security Agreement began developing a number of airborne early warning and control platforms to increase the effectiveness and coordination of their air and ground forces. AEW&C aircraft had played a significant role in the Northern War and the improvement in these capabilities was demonstrated during the Pacific Wars of the 1980s.

In 1992 the Carthage Air Forces issued a requirement for a new missile designed to engage AEW&C aircraft at longer range than existing ordnance, allowing the attacking aircraft to remain relatively safe beyond the retaliation range of the AEW&C aircraft's escorts. Due to the nature of the expected targets, range and seeker sensitivity were prioritized over maneuverability, and the specialized nature of the program required strict cost controls, as the Air Forces were unwilling to expend large sums on a niche weapon system. It was expected that the weapon could also have secondary applications as an anti-radiation missile

Affordable Anti-Radiation Missile Program

Four proposals were received, and in 1994 North Iberian Electrical Systems was announced as the winning bidder and prime contractor for the Affordable Anti-Radiation Missile Program. The proposed design recycled elements of existing missile designs, including the passive seeker and body of the Type-57 anti-radiation missile, the active seeker of the Type-89 MRAAM, the control surfaces of the Joint ABM demonstrator, the warhead of the SR-150-2 surface-to-air missile, and a rocket motor derived from that of the SR-150-3 anti-ballistic missile. New equipment included reduced-power actuators for the control surfaces to reduce costs and new control logic to mate the inputs from the active and passive seekers.

Missile testing proceeded rapidly over the course of the next three years. Flight tests began in late 1995 and launch tests in early 1996, with the missile approved for production on February 7, 1997. An initial production order of 10,000 missiles was placed, but this was reduced in 2001 to 7,200 missiles in light of developments in the SAR-778 Sakura and Advanced Multirole Program. In particular, the SAR-778 had already demonstrated its use as an anti-radiation missile, and the 6 meter (20 ft) length of the SAR-776 prevented it from being carried in the RFM-202's internal bays, limiting it to non-stealth external carriage. Both of these factors limited the missile's expected employment, and as a result, the orders were cut. No units were ordered by either the Punic Navy or the Army.

Production terminated in 2007 with revised order of 7,200 missiles delivered. With the introduction of the rest of the SAR-77X family, the components for the SAR-776 are no longer in production, but sufficient stockpiles of legacy missiles exist to manufacture an estimated 20,000 additional Tomoes if required. In 2008 NIES proposed an upgraded model of the SAR-776, replacing the Type-89's radar seeker with that of the newer SAR-778 for increased accuracy. The proposal was rejected by the Air Forces, citing the lack of need and the budgetary requirements of other projects.

Operational features summary

The SAR-776 is designed to engage enemy AEW&C aircraft beyond the missile range of their fighter escorts, reducing the risk to the attacking aircraft. Specialized for the role, it is equipped with a passive receiver to detect and home in on radar emissions as well as an active seeker for terminal guidance. It is equipped with a satellite/inertial guidance system for use during the midcourse and can accept updates from the launch aircraft via datalink. During normal operation the missile is set to home in on the emissions of AEW&C aircraft, but if target aircraft ceases transmission as a defensive measure the missile automatically continues along its projected course before activating its terminal seeker.

Tomoe is also useful against ground-based radar and can be used as a conventional air-to-ground anti-radiation missile. It possesses a significantly longer range in this role as well as more than twice the explosive yield than the SAR-778, but the latter is preferred due to its multipurpose design and internal storage capability on stealth aircraft. Once fired, the missile is also capable of continuing on a satellite-guided path toward the last known radar position, allowing it to engage targets that have stopped emitting. With the inclusion of the satellite guidance system, the missile is also capable of being used as a general-purpose ground attack munition.

To reduce costs and maximize propellant volume, the SAR-776 is more lightly built despite its size and is designed for only 12 g maneuverability, sufficient to pursue large aircraft but insufficient to engage hostile fighters and maneuvering missiles.

Description

Seeker

The SAR-776 incorporates two seekers, the Acheron Technologies PNR4A1 passive radar receiver used in the Type-57 anti-radiation missile as well as the Santos de Cuba WR-451X3 active radar seeker of the Type-89 MRAAM, accommodated in the missile's large-diameter housing. The passive radar receiver requires little power and is the primary mode of guidance against emitting targets, including ground-based radar and airborne command platforms. To improve accuracy in the terminal phase, especially against attempts at emissions control as a defensive measure, the active radar seeker is used. If the target goes inactive before the active seeker is within range, the SAR-776 has an onboard satellite/inertial guidance system to maintain the missile's course. The missile is also capable of receiving midcourse updates from the launch platform or other friendly aircraft with compatible datalink equipment.

Warhead

The onboard 50 kg (110 lb) annular blast fragmentation warhead is located just behind the seeker, and is equipped with an RF proximity fuze and backup contact fuze for detonation. The warhead is the same type used in the SR-150-2 SAM operated by the Punic Navy. It is estimated to have a lethal radius in excess of 35 meters (115 ft) against 5 m² targets. It is smaller than the 70 kg (150 lb) warhead in the Type-57 but possesses greater lethality due to more efficient fragmentation and a more accurate guidance system.

In 1999 a modified version of the warhead was introduced, replacing the original composition with one meeting insensitive munitions standards for safer storage and handling. Older missiles were retrofitted with the warhead after the conclusion of production.

Propulsion and control

The propulsion stages are derived from the first two stages of the SR-150-3 short-range anti-ballistic missile, incorporating the boost stage and sustainment motor. Upon launch, the boost stage rapidly accelerates the missile to 4,000 km/h (2,500 mph) before detaching, allowing the solid rocket sustainment motor to carry the missile the rest of the way. The missile can use a loft-glide trajectory against targets, although this requires additional guidance if the missile leaves the target's radar range.

Four fins at the rear of the missile provide aerodynamic control, enabling maneuvers up to 12 g, suitable for engaging larger targets. The fins are the same type used in the SAR-777 Madoka, but use lower-power actuators to reduce size and cost given the lower performance specifications of the SAR-776. Although not designed to be carried internally, the missiles have folding fins to facilitate enclosed canister storage.

Variants and upgrades

SAR-776: Initial production model, produced from 1997-2007. 7,200 missiles were delivered under the order, with the first 1,400 missiles delivered with the original SR-150-2 warhead and the rest with the improved insensitive filler warhead. The initial models were returned for reconditioning to meet munitions standards.

SAR-776AM1: Proposed variant using the improved SAR-778 active radar seeker and new control actuators, capable of 20 g maneuverability and thus posing a greater threat to smaller and more agile radar platforms. The type was not procured.

SAR-776AM2: Proposed dedicated ground-attack variant incorporating a millimeter wave seeker in addition to the passive radar receiver, allowing the missile to discriminate against specific target vehicles and intelligently attack radar or command facilities. The variant would have limited air-to-air capabilities as a result of the removal of the previous active radar seeker.

Operators

• Carthage
  • Carthage Air Forces
• Japan
  • Imperial Navy
• Gensokyo Republic
  • Republic Aerospace Corps
  • Republic Navy

See also

• SAR-778 Sakura

Comparable missiles

• AIM-54 Phoenix
• AS-17 Krypton
• Novator K-100
• Vympel R-37