AGM-124 Wasp

The AGM -124 WASP is an air -to-ground rocket from Hughes, whose development was stopped still in the prototype stage.

History

The U.S. forces initiated in 1975, the WAAM program (Wide - Area Anti- Armour Ammunition ), emerged from the three other programs - CBU -92 ERAM, CBU -90 ACM and the AGM -124 WASP.

To develop the WASP firms Boeing and Hughes were selected, which began in 1979 with the development phase. The operational concept of the AGM -124 stipulated that several missiles ( seven pieces or more ) should be launched from a rocket pod. Every single missile should be managed by its radar seeker head into the goal. The basic idea was that an A- 10 Thunderbolt II mitführte Up to twelve such missiles gondolas and so attack more than one target at the same time or could destroy a target with several missiles. The defense against such an attack with a high number of missiles would be very difficult.

During the development phase, the Hughes design proved to be better than that of Boeing, so that the U.S. Air Force chose the model of Hughes. In 1983, the first prototypes were tested in October of the same year the development was stopped, however.