BGM-75 AICBM
Encyclopedia
The Advanced Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, also known as Weapons System 120A (WS-120A) and ZBGM-75, was a program to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile
, proposed by the United States Air Force
in the 1960s. However, funding for the program was not allocated and the project was cancelled.
ICBM in United States Air Force
service. The program was officially launched in April of that year, and in June the project was designated ZBGM-75, the "Z" indicating a project in the planning stage.
The specifications for the ZBGM-75 called for a large missile powered by solid fuel, and fitted with between 10 and 20 Multiple Independently targetable Reentry Vehicle
s (MIRVs). The missiles would be based in silo launchers that would be hardened by a factor of 10 over existing Minuteman missile silos. In addition, there was also a plan to develop a railroad-based deployment system for the AICBM. Improvements in accuracy over existing missiles, combined with penetration aids under development, were expected to make the AICBM capable of defeating existing and projected Soviet
antiballistic missile systems.
After the cancellation of WS-120A, no further development of new ICBMs was to be done until 1972, when the M-X project, which became the LGM-118 Peacekeeper, was begun. The Peacekeeper entered service in the mid 1980s, and served until 2005, the Minuteman family of ICBMs outlasting both of its planned replacements in service.
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
, proposed by the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
in the 1960s. However, funding for the program was not allocated and the project was cancelled.
Background
Started in 1966, the Advanced Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (AICBM) project was intended as a successor to the LGM-30 MinutemanLGM-30 Minuteman
The LGM-30 Minuteman is a U.S. nuclear missile, a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile . As of 2010, the version LGM-30G Minuteman-III is the only land-based ICBM in service in the United States...
ICBM in United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
service. The program was officially launched in April of that year, and in June the project was designated ZBGM-75, the "Z" indicating a project in the planning stage.
The specifications for the ZBGM-75 called for a large missile powered by solid fuel, and fitted with between 10 and 20 Multiple Independently targetable Reentry Vehicle
Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle
A multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle warhead is a collection of nuclear weapons carried on a single intercontinental ballistic missile or a submarine-launched ballistic missile . Using a MIRV warhead, a single launched missile can strike several targets, or fewer targets redundantly...
s (MIRVs). The missiles would be based in silo launchers that would be hardened by a factor of 10 over existing Minuteman missile silos. In addition, there was also a plan to develop a railroad-based deployment system for the AICBM. Improvements in accuracy over existing missiles, combined with penetration aids under development, were expected to make the AICBM capable of defeating existing and projected Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
antiballistic missile systems.
Cancellation
In 1967, before any formal specifications for the ZBGM-75 could be developed or requests for proposals from industry issued, the Secretary of Defense, Robert MacNamara, declined approval for funding for the AICBM project - although development of the superhardened silo did continue for use by the Minuteman force - and the missile was cancelled. Had funding been allotted, the USAF projected that the BGM-75 would have been in operational service by 1973.After the cancellation of WS-120A, no further development of new ICBMs was to be done until 1972, when the M-X project, which became the LGM-118 Peacekeeper, was begun. The Peacekeeper entered service in the mid 1980s, and served until 2005, the Minuteman family of ICBMs outlasting both of its planned replacements in service.