Zero length launch
Encyclopedia
The zero length launch system or zero length take-off system (ZLL, ZLTO, ZEL, ZELL) was a system whereby jet
fighters
and attack aircraft were intended to be placed upon rocket
s attached to mobile launch platforms. Most zero length launch experiments took place in the 1950s, during the Cold War
.
The United States Air Force
, Luftwaffe
, and the Soviet Air Force
all conducted experiments in zero length launching. All works upon ZELL aircraft were abandoned due to logistical concerns and the increasing efficiency of guided missile
s.
The desire to field combat aircraft without depending on vulnerable landing strips also motivated development of aircraft capable of vertical (VTOL
) or short (STOL
) takeoffs or landings. Examples of these include British Hawker Siddeley Harrier, Soviet Yak-38 (both serially produced) and American McDonnell Douglas F-15S/MTD
.
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
fighters
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
and attack aircraft were intended to be placed upon rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
s attached to mobile launch platforms. Most zero length launch experiments took place in the 1950s, during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
.
History
The primary advantage of a zero length launch system is the elimination of the need for a vulnerable airfield for takeoffs. In the event of a sudden attack, air forces could field effective air defenses and launch airstrikes even with their own airbases destroyed. Although launching aircraft using rocket boosters proved to be relatively trouble-free, zero length launch systems still required a conventional runway if the aircraft was expected to land. Bulky mobile launching platforms also proved to be expensive to operate and difficult to transport. Security would also have been an issue with mobile launchers, especially if equipped with nuclear-armed strike fighters.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...
, Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
, and the Soviet Air Force
Soviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces...
all conducted experiments in zero length launching. All works upon ZELL aircraft were abandoned due to logistical concerns and the increasing efficiency of guided missile
Guided Missile
Guided Missile is a London based independent record label set up by Paul Kearney in 1994.Guided Missile has always focused on 'the underground', preferring to put out a steady flow of releases and developing the numerous GM events around London and beyond....
s.
Manned aircraft involved in ZELL Testing
- F-84G Thunderjet
- North American F-100D Super Sabre
- Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 "Farmer"
- North American XF-108 RapierXF-108 RapierThe North American XF-108 Rapier was a proposed long-range, high-speed interceptor aircraft designed by North American Aviation. Initiated to defend the United States from supersonic Soviet bombers, the program, initially called NA-257, was cancelled in 1959 due to a shortage of funds and the...
- (aircraft program cancelled) - Avro Canada Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow - (aircraft program cancelled)
The desire to field combat aircraft without depending on vulnerable landing strips also motivated development of aircraft capable of vertical (VTOL
VTOL
A vertical take-off and landing aircraft is one that can hover, take off and land vertically. This classification includes fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters and other aircraft with powered rotors, such as cyclogyros/cyclocopters and tiltrotors...
) or short (STOL
STOL
STOL is an acronym for short take-off and landing, a term used to describe aircraft with very short runway requirements.-Definitions:There is no one accepted definition of STOL and many different definitions have been used by different authorities and nations at various times and for a myriad of...
) takeoffs or landings. Examples of these include British Hawker Siddeley Harrier, Soviet Yak-38 (both serially produced) and American McDonnell Douglas F-15S/MTD
F-15S/MTD
|-F-15 ACTIVE:-See also:- External links :* * *...
.