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| Origin | General Dynamics (Convair)/McDonnel Douglas (now Boeing Missile Systems |
| Powerplant | Williams International F112-WR-100 turbofan |
| Guidance | Inertial, with TERCOM update |
| Warhead | W80-1 nuclear |
| Length | 20 ft 10 in (6.84 m) |
| Body Width | 2 ft 3.75 in (50.8 cm) |
| Body Height | 25.27 in (64.19cm) |
| Wingspan | 10 ft 2 in (3.34 m) |
| Weight | 3,709 lbs (1680 kg) |
| Range | 1,865 mi (3,000 km) |
The AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile or ACM is a significant improvement over the USAF's other main cruise missile, the AGM-86 ALCM. The ACM includes extensivelow-observables or Stealth characteristics, and has improved range, accuracy, survivality and targetingflexibility over the earlier ALCM. The AGM-129's Stealth features are immediatly apparent when viewing the missile. The nose is sharply pointed with sharp edges or chines, reminiscent of the chines used on the SR-71 Blackbird. The missile's wings are swept forward at 26 degrees, again to reduce reflections back to a radar transmitter/reciever forward of the missile. The ACM's turbofan engine exhaust consists of a 2D nozzle. It is in a 2D shape to allow the hot exhaust to rapidly mix with the cool surrounding air to reduce the overall IR signature. The Inlet is mounted flush with the fuselage to reduce it's RCS, and the missile is constructed with radar-absorbing materials and radar-absorbing structures.
The Advanced Cruise Missile was designed primarily to be
carried externally by the B-52H Stratofortress strategic bomber, and was
developped General Dynamics. The AGM-129 first flew in July 1985 and McDonnel
Douglas (now Boeing) was given the contract in November 1987 for
"technology transfer" leading to "second-course capability"
(meaning simply that it can follow any number of courses to a target) for
the ACM.
ACM deliveries began in June 1990. The first operational
unit to be equipped with the ACM was the 410th Bomb Wing at K.I. Sawyer
AFB in Michigan. The last ACM was delivered in August 1993. A total of 461
ACMs were acquired; the original plannedprocurement was 1,460 missiles,
but due to budget constraints and the end of the Cold War this number
was reduced. FY96, FY97, and FY98 funds are being used to complete the
remaining 15% or so of the development work.