RUM-139 VL-ASROC

The RUM -139 VL- ASROC is an anti - submarine rocket the United States Navy, which is produced by Lockheed Martin as the successor of the RUR -5 ASROC. The RUM -139 consists of a rocket, the first flies to the target above water. Approaching the destination, the rocket engine is blown off, the torpedo falls by parachute into the water and completed the remaining distance under water.

Description

In the early 1980s the U.S. Navy sought a successor weapon for anti- submarine missiles RUR -5 ASROC and UUC -44 Subroc. The aim was to develop a single weapon system that can be used by surface warships and submarines. This was the first RUM/UUM-125-Programm, with the Boeing was commissioned in 1982. Since early doubts were in the U.S. Navy in mind that the UUC -125 could also be used as RUM missiles, you authorize in 1983 the Goodyear Aerospace Company, the RUR -5 ASROC missile to the new Mark -41 Vertical Launch customize system. Goodyear first modified such missiles by this fitting out with a controllable solid booster and a digital flight control added. As a warhead still got a Mark -46 lightweight torpedo for use. Initially it was planned to make the RUM - 139 1989 in service, but after a few failed tests in 1986, the schedule was no longer tenable. The delays in the development could increase the cost and led in 1988 to a preliminary termination of the program. However, since the development of the RUM -125 Sea Lance was also in 1990 set was the U.S. Navy to enforce the development of the RUM -139.

Meanwhile, the Loral Company had taken over the program and sat instead of booster on the new MK -114 Mod 0 solid rocket engines. In combination with an improved flight control and thrust vector control so could a flatter trajectory can be achieved, which reduces the margin of error in discharge of the torpedo, since in this way the influence of high-altitude winds was reduced. Since the trials now more successfully ran, although the original planned use of the Mark -50 torpedoes could not be implemented, the first RUM - 139A - units were placed in service in 1993.

In 1995, Lockheed Martin Loral the Company and continued the development of the RUM -139. We presented in 1996 before the RUM - 139B, which had slight modifications to the Mark -46 torpedo. 2001 finally started with the development of RUM - 139C which used the new Mark -54 torpedo. 2007 had been delivered, which are used in addition to the U.S. Navy by the Japanese Navy a total of 450 RUM -139 missiles.

The training version of the RUM -139 is listed as RTM -139.