Boeing

The Boeing Company has successfully tested a turbojet engine to extend the range of the AGM-130 Standoff Weapon System.

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Eagle launched the weapon Monday, Sept. 21, from 15,000 feet over the Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., water ranges. The turbojet motor reached 100 percent thrust starting at the normal six-seconds-after-release point currently used with the United States Air Force inventory AGM-130 missile. The unarmed weapon traveled about 102 nautical miles from release, with a flight time of more than 11 minutes.

This AGM-130 extended-range test caps a 24-month effort. Frank Robbins, Precision Strike Systems Program Office Director at Eglin Air Force Base, noted that it demonstrated a roughly three-fold increase in standoff range for the F-15E without changing the warfighter's concept of operations.

"Boeing has successfully continued the original Multi-Stage Improvement Program of mid-1990, which envisioned providing greater survivability to the F-15E aircraft in conflicts against future threats," he said.

He noted that the AGM-130 turbojet flew the farthest of any precision munition that has been air-launched over the Eglin complex.

The turbojet engine is an adaptation of the MQM-107 drone engine currently operated by the United States Air Force and produced by Microturbo USA, Inc., a part of the Labinal Group located in Montigny, France. The fuel system for the AGM-130 turbojet was provided by Intertechnique, located in Plaisir, France.

The AGM-130 turbojet demonstration test continues Boeing efforts to maximize commonality and savings while improving the capability of existing systems.

The Boeing facility in Duluth, Ga., produces the AGM-130.

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