ACM-17 Choronzon
| ACM-17 Choronzon | |
|---|---|
| File:ACM-17 HAAM.png | |
| Place of origin | Arthurista |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1989-present |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Arthuristan Dynamics |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 900kg |
| Length | 3.2m |
| Diameter | 39cm |
| Warhead | 150kg shaped charge, thermobaric or Red Hammer 0.5-150kt thermonuclear warhead |
| Engine | solid-fuel dual-pulse rocket engine |
Operational range | 400km |
| Speed | Mach 3 |
Guidance system | Mid-course: Inertial/SATNAV, Terminal: IIR or passive radar |
Launch platform | Aircrafts |
The ACM-17 Choronzon, also known as "HAAM" (High Altitude Attack Missile), is a high speed, air launched anti-ship, land attack and anti-radiation missile in service with the Commonwealth Air Force and Fleet Air Arm. It was intended as a relatively compact, cost effective high speed strike weapon. The ordnance follows a semi-ballistic flight profile and dives towards its target at mach 3 from 40,000m. Its warhead weight is rather light, though compensated by the kinetic energy of the munition. It possesses none of the sophisticated ECCM or PENAID featured in a typical Arthuristan cruise missile and relies purely on its sheer speed and high altitude approach for survivability, which contributes to its relative cheapness. Its two-pulse solid-fuel rocket motor gives it very good reach for its size while still being relatively simple and cost-effective to manufacture in quantity. The munition's main fuselage is covered in a layer of rubber and its fins in phenolic materiel in order to reduce radar signature.
The ACM-17A variant relies on an imaging infra-red seeker for land and naval strike. The ACM-17B uses a passive radar seeker and is employed either as an anti-radiation missile or to attack warships carrying powerful AAW radar systems. The ACM-17C is a nuclear variant with additional fuel and minus any terminal guidance systems. It carries a Red Hammer 0.5-150kt thermonuclear warhead. The most recent examples can be carried in the internal bays of UFC F-29 Hurricane and similar 5th generation fighter bombers.