In Defense Of Liberty

AIM-54 Phoenix missile
Used as a long-range, air-launched air intercept missile
Unit cost: $477,131
Power plant: Solid propellant rocket motor built by Hercules
Length: 13 feet
Weight: 1,024 pounds
Diameter: 15 inches
Wing Span: 3 feet
Range: In excess of 100 nautical miles; 115 statute miles
Speed: In excess of 3,000 mph
Guidance System: Semi-active and active radar homing
Warheads: Proximity fuse, high explosive
Warhead Weight: 135 pounds

Striking from afar

Ship- and air-launched missiles allow the United States to attack with precision without exposing its forces. The largest are the sea-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles and the even more powerful B-52-borne Air Launched Cruise Missiles, or ALCS.

I realize that we're all familiar with the names of these missiles but I was curious as to exactly what they looked liked, what it took to load this ordinance and how much each one of the puppies cost. I suppose it's no secret since I found this information readily available on the web. Thought I'd gather it in one place in case someone else was curious too. Above they load one of those "bunker buster" bombs.

Bunker busters
The U.S. developed a gigantic bomb whose characteristics remain classified to destroy bunkers of the Iraqi military during the Gulf War. The bomb, which is guided by lasers to its target, is known as a GBU-28 and could be used against caves or deep bunkers in Afghanistan.

[Left]

Air Force Academy graduate ready to do his job...flying one of that F-16 behind him.

You go Jeremy!

Tomahawk cruise missile
Used for long-range, subsonic land-attack warfare.

Unit cost: About $1 million
Power plant: Williams International F107-WR-402 cruise turbo-fan engine; solid-fuel booster
Length: 18 feet, 3 inches; with booster: 20 feet, 6 inches
Diameter: 20.4 inches
Wing Span: 8 feet, 9 inches
Range: Land attack, conventional warhead: 600 nautical miles; 690 statute miles
Speed: Subsonic - about 550 mph
Guidance System: Inertial and TERCOM
Warheads: Conventional: 1,000 pounds bullpup or conventional submunitions dispenser with combined effect bomblets.

Stealth

Tomahawk cruise missile

Prowlers

Harm missile

"We Own The Night"

AGM-88 HARM missile system
Used for air-to-surface anti-radiation attacks on hostile radar installations
Unit cost: $284,000
Power plant: Thiokol dual-thrust, solid propellant, rocket motor
Length: 13 feet, 8 inches
Launch Weight: 800 pounds
Diameter: 10 inches
Wing Span: 3 feet, 8 inches
Range: 80+ miles; 57+ nautical miles
Speed: 760+ mph
Guidance: Proportional/radar homing
Warhead: Blast fragmentation; warhead weight 146 pounds

AIM-9 Sidewinder missile
Used as a heat-seeking, air-to-air missile.
Unit cost: $41,300
Power plant: Thiokol Hercules and Bermite MK 36 Mod 11; single-stage, solid-propellant rocket motor
Length: 9 feet, 6 inches
Diameter: 5 inches
Fin Span: 2 feet, 1 inch
Speed: Supersonic
Warhead: Blast fragmentation (conventional)
weighing 20.8 pounds
Launch Weight: 190 pounds
Range: 10+ miles
Guidance System: Solid-state infrared homing system

Sidewinders

Cluster bombs

Cluster bombs
Cluster bombs -- highly controversial because of the high percentage that do not explode and remain dangerous long after the battle ends -- are generally used against troop formations. The bombs explode, spreading smaller bomblets over a wide area.

Patriot air-defense missiles
The Patriot anti-missile gained fame during the Gulf War, when the missiles were used extensively in an effort to protect Israel and coalition bases in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain from Iraqi Scud missile attacks. Their effectiveness then was not great but since they have been improved. The United States has been working with Israeli engineers on a next generation anti-missile system known as the Arrow.

C-17 flies over a Mosque

Patriot

Navy

By Sea

Aircraft carriers
Since World War II, U.S. naval doctrine has been built around the aircraft carrier and the submarine, with surface vessels in a support role. The Tomahawk missile has changed that somewhat, but the carrier is still the queen of the fleet. The newest and most numerous carriers in the fleet are the eight nuclear-powered Nimitz class vessels.
8 Nimitz-class carriers:
Truman, Nimitz, Eisenhower, Roosevelt, Lincoln, Stennis, Vinson — CVNs 68-76
Air complement: 10 F-14 Tomcat fighters, 36 F/A-18 Hornet strike aircraft, 4 EA-6B Prowler attack aircraft, 4 E-2C Hawkeye command aircraft, 8 S-3A/B Viking anti-submarine aircraft, 3 SH-60F and 3 HH-60H Seahawk helicopters
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Va.
Power plant: Two nuclear reactors, four shafts
Length overall: 1,092 feet
Flight deck width: 252 feet
Beam: 134 feet
Displacement: About 97,000 tons full load
Speed: 30+ knots; 34.5+ mph
Aircraft: 85
Cost: about $4.5 billion each

1 Enterprise class:
USS Enterprise, CVN 65
Air complement: 10 F-14 Tomcat fighters, 36 F/A-18 Hornet strike aircraft, 4 EA-6B Prowler attack aircraft, 4 E-2C Hawkeye command aircraft, 8 S-3A/B Viking anti-submarine aircraft, 3 SH-60F and 3 HH-60H Seahawk helicopters
Builders: Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Va.
Power plant: Eight nuclear reactors, four shafts
Length overall: 1,101 feet, 2 inches
Flight deck width: 252 feet
Beam: 133 feet
Displacement: 89,600 tons full load
Speed: 30+ knots; 34.5 mph
Aircraft: 85
Home port: Norfolk, Va.
Crew: Ship's company: 3,350; air wing 2,480
Armament: Sea Sparrow Missile launchers, Three Phalanx 20 MM CIWS mounts Date deployed: Nov. 25, 1961
Cost: About $1 billion in 1961 dollars

3 Kitty Hawk class:
Kitty Hawk, Constellation, John F. Kennedy -- CVs 63-64, 67
Air complement: 20 F-14 Tomcat fighters, 36 F/A-18 Hornet strike aircraft, 4 EA-6B Prowler attack aircraft, 4 E-2C Hawkeye command aircraft, 8 S-3A/B Viking anti-submarine aircraft, 3 SH-60F and 3 HH-60H Seahawk helicopters
Builders: New York and Newport News shipbuilding yards
Power plant: 8 Foster-Wheeler boilers; Westinghouse turbines
Length overall: 1,046 feet
Flight deck width: 252 feet
Beam: 133 feet
Displacement: 89,600 tons full load
Speed: 30+ knots; 34.5 mph
Aircraft: 85
Home port: Norfolk, Va.
Crew: Ship's Company: 2,900; air wing 2,480
Armament: Sea Sparrow Missile launchers, Three Phalanx 20 MM CIWS mounts
Date deployed: 1961-1968
Cost: About $1 billion in 1961 dollars

Prowlers

Attack submarines
Attack submarines are designed to seek and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships. Since the advent of the Tomahawk missile, however, they have become land-attack vessels as well.

Class: Los Angeles
Power plant: One nuclear reactor, two geared steam turbines, one shaft
Length: 360 feet
Beam: 33 feet
Displacement: Approx. 6,900 tons submerged
Speed: 20+ knots; 23+ mph

Ticonderoga class cruisers

With only a few older exceptions, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser is the Navy's primary large surface ship. Twenty-seven are now in the fleet with none under construction. These ships, once used to engage enemy surface units and to support amphibious landings, now have the power to launch dozens of Tomahawk cruise missiles thousands of miles into enemy territory.
Class: Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser
Power plant:4 General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines; 2 shafts, 80,000 shaft horsepower total.
Length: 567 feet
Beam: 55 feet
Displacement: 9,600 tons full load
Speed: 30+ knots
Aircraft: Two SH-2 Seasprite (LAMPS) in CG 47-48; Two SH-60 Sea Hawk (LAMPS III)

Destroyers
Several classes of guided-missile destroyers are still in service in the U.S. Navy, but the Arleigh Burke class is rapidly replacing older ships. Destroyers once served primarily to escort carriers, provide anti-aircraft defense and hunt submarines. Today, like larger cruisers, they're equipped with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Arleigh Burke class
Builders: Bath Iron Works, Ingalls Shipbuilding
Power plant: Four General Electric LM 2500-30 gas turbines; two shafts, 100,000 total shaft horsepower.
Length: 466 feet
Beam: 59 feet
Displacement: 8,300 tons full load
Speed: 31 knots; 35.7 mph
Aircraft: None. LAMPS III electronics installed on landing deck for coordinated DDG 51/helo ASW operations

Spruance class
Builder: Ingalls Shipbuilding
Power plant: Four General Electric LM 2500 gas turbines, two shafts, 80,000 shaft horsepower
Length: 563 feet
Beam: 55 feet
Displacement: Spruance - 9,100 tons full load
Speed: 33 knots; 38 mph
Aircraft: Spruance — Two SH-60 Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters