Llama Cruise Missile

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The Llama Cruise Missile (Spanish: Misil de Crucero Lama) is a long range cruise missile which canbe fired from a variety of platforms. It comes in three basic versions, the basic air launched version, a surface launched version, and a submarine launched version. It is used by the Latin American Air Force and Navy.

Contents

Development

Development of the MCL started in 1975 when the FAEC issued a requirement for a cruise missile with a range of approximately 2500km with a nuclear warhead, a CEP of 200m, a speed of over 500 mph, low radar cross section, and a launch weight of less than 3000lbs. The Navy had a similar requirement for a common cruise missile for launch from long range aircraft, submarines, and battleships with conventional and nuclear warheads. In 1976, the requirements were combined into a single requirement. Though the Air Force opposed having to deal with the Navy (being concerned that since the Navy would set the size of the weapon, they would also set its performance).

The MCL is produced by ENAER in Chile.

Common Characteristics

The MCL appears as an 18ft long tube with wings, and a folding triple tail. The missile is powered by a small turbofan engine fed by a folding intake. The missile is controlled by three fins, which fold flush with the fuselage before launch. The rear of the missile is devoted to engine, and control surfaces. The centre of the missile contains fuel, and houses the wings, which are folded before launch. The wing is a one-piece straight wing, which folds 90o after launch. It contains the missile's ailerons. The nose of the missile houses the warhead and guidance section. These can be detached quickly to convert the missile for a variety of missions.

The MCL entered service in 1982 as an anti-ship missile, 1983 as a conventional land attack missile, and 1984 as a nuclear land attack missile.

Guidance System

Land Attack Mark 1

The first land attack guidance system was a TAINS (Tercom aided intertial guidance system) with DSMAC used on the approach to the target. The system has a back up, using simple inertial guidance, and a small terrain following radar to keep the missile at a low height over the ground. If the TFR fails, the missile climbs to 500ft and uses inertial guidance.

Anti Ship

The anti-ship guidance system is taken directly from the Exocet anti-ship missile. The guidance section is designed to take upgrades as they are integrated into the Exocet system. The use of the MCL in the anti-ship role is rare due to the range and performance of the Exocet combined with the latter's relatively low cost. Battleships tend to carry the anti-ship MCL to provide Surface Action Groups long range anti-shipping firepower. Carrier Battle Groups rely on their aircraft for this function.

Land Attack Mark 2

This is essentially the same as the Mark 1, but adds a GPS receiver. It was introduced in 1990.

Land Attack Mark 3

In 1998, a completely new guidance system was introduced. New TERCOM, DSMAC, and GPS units retain tactical commonality with previous missiles, and the Mark 3 adds datalinks, and an EO/IR camera to enable the missile to send back live imagery. Commands can be sent to the missile directing it on to another target, or to a harmless impact point. This version cannot be used with a nuclear warhead as it lacks the ability to detonate the warhead in the air. This is because it has a man in the loop guidance system, which has the possibility (extremely remote) of the missile being hacked in flight. The Latin American Armed Forces considers this an intolerable risk to take with nuclear weapons.

Warheads

The thermonuclear warhead is armed on the ground, and detonated by a command from the missile's guidance system when it is at the desired detonation point. The warhead cannot explode on impact (as it lacks any sort of impact fusing, and safe against impact). Only the Land Attack Mark 1 and Mark 2 guidance systems contain the necessary software, and wiring to detonate a nuclear warhead.

The submunitions warhead deploys its submunitions on command from the guidance system, using different linkages and software (to allow for multiple timed released at controlled rates) to the nuclear detonation system. The submunitions are BLU-97/B Combined Effects Bombs.

The unitary warhead can be detonated on impact, or by the guidance system for an air burst. A third set of linkages and software are used for this. It also contains a copy of the Exocet's fuse for anti shipping missions.

Although the detonation systems may seem complex, the Latin American Armed Forces considers this necessary for the sake of nuclear safety and security.

MCL-1

The MCL-1 is the basic version. Apart from the common elements, it has suspension lugs, and electrical/data connections to the launch aircraft. The folding fins are still retained (as they aid internal carriage). It is carried by the Buccaneer, F-111, A-14, B-1B, and B-3. The B-3 and B-1B use an eight round internal rotary launcher. The B-1B can also carry single missiles under the fuselage, and the B-3 can carry eight missiles under the wings in four pairs. The MCL-1 has been tested on the P-3C Orion, but not used operationally (the Orion carries Exocet as its sole AShM).

MCL-2

The MCL-2 is the surface launched version. The MCL-2 comes in two versions, a horizontally launched version, and a vertically launched version. The horizontal version was the initial version and is fired from the Armoured Box Launchers on Navy Ships, and the GLCM mobile launchers of the Air Force. The vertical launch version is intended for the Navy's Mk 41 VLS. The differences are in packaging (the horizontal launch version comes in a cylinder, the vertical in a box) and the boosters (the vertical launch version has a more advanced and more powerful booster)

MCL-3

The MCL-3 is the submarine launched version. It is like the MCL-2 in most respects, except the storage/launch container. There are two types of MCL-3 in service, a torpedo tube launched version, and a VLS launched version. The tube launched version is increasingly rare. The MCL-2's container is designed to facilitate handling (the missile in its container can be handled as a torpedo), and to protect the missile from the torpedo tube (the MCL has a thin aluminium skin, unlike a torpedo which is clad in stainless steel). The missile compatible with the submarine's fire control systems. Upon firing, the missile is ejected from the cannister, a rocket motor brings the missile up to the surface, and then up to a speed in the air at which the turbofan can take over.

The Future

The Air Force intends to abandon the Llama Cruise Missile MCL-1, and replace it with a weapon intended solely for air launch. The Air Force has always contended that having to use a weapon that is constrained by the need to fit into a standard 21" torpedo tube artificially limits the wepon for Air Force use. The replacement weapon is called the AGM-172 Shadow. The Fleet Air Force will also adopt the Shadow in limited numbers, though this decision may be reversed, in which case the Navy would continue to use the MCL as its sole heavy cruise missile. The Air Force is committed to keeping the MCL-2 as a GLCM.

Images

[1]

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