Английская Википедия:GTR-18 Smokey Sam
The GTR-18A, commonly known as the Smokey Sam, is a small unguided rocket developed by Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) in China Lake, California as a threat simulator for use during military exercises. Widely used in training, the Smokey Sam remains in operational service with the United States military.
Design and development
The GTR-18 was conceived in the late 1970s by Robert A. McLellan, a Weapons Range Scientist working with Exercise Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base. He first searched for a commercially available system that would perform as he envisioned. It quickly became apparent that no commercial product would perform adequately, so the development of the GTR-18 was undertaken by the Naval Weapons Center (NWC) during the early 1980s, with the intent of developing Mr. McLellan's idea of a simple and inexpensive rocket for visually simulating the launch of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) during training exercises.[1]
The design of the GTR-18A rocket is very simplistic and intended for minimal cost with the fuselage and nose cone being constructed from phenolic paper while the fins are constructed out of styrofoam.[1][2] The fuselage and fins are joined to the nose cone by the motor tube which contains Шаблон:Convert of X-60 solid fuel propellant.[3] Because of its very light construction, the Smokey Sam will only cause minimal damage even if it accidentally strikes a low-flying aircraft.[1][3][2]
Operational history
The complete launch system, known as the Smokey Sam Simulator, includes single-rail LMU-23/E and four-rail LMU-24/E launching pads, an AN/VPQ-1 radar set, the PVU-3A/E Igniter[4] and the GTR-18A rockets themselves, making up the SMU-124/E system as a whole.[1][2]
When launched, the GTR-18's rocket motor produces a distinctive white plume, providing a realistic simulation of the launch of a surface-to-air missile.[5] While the ordinary GTR-18A has a simple, model rocket type motor, an improved "Dual Thrust Smokey Sam" tested in the early 2000s featured a modified rocket motor, providing a 1.5 second boost period, followed by a lower-thrust sustainer burn with burnout occurring at 7.1 seconds after launch.[6]
This motor was altered to use a two-part laminated grain propellant which utilized both the standard zinc based grain and a high thrust aluminium based grain as used by other US rockets. The new propellant allows the "Dual Thrust Smokey Sam" to have a boost and sustain signature to better imitate a surface-to-air missile and while thrust is initially low, the higher thrust for the majority of the motors burn time gives an improved trajectory.[7]
The GTR-18A received the altered designation DGTR-18A in the early 1990s, despite the use of the D ("Dummy") prefix usually being limited to non-flying rockets/missiles used for ground handling training only.[2] The Smokey Sam remains in production and operational service, and is extensively used by the U.S. military.[1]
Gallery
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A GTR-18A Smokey Sam being set up during Exercise PATRIOT PEACH '86
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A Smokey Sam being launched at an aircraft approaching the Crow Valley Electronic Warfare Tactical Range, Luzon, Philippines, during exercise "Cope Thunder '84-7"
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Ordnancemen of VMGR-152 aim a Smokey Sam at pilots during threat reaction training
Notes
References
Bibliography
External links
- [1] Webpage covering the GTR-18A
Military specifications
Шаблон:US military rockets Шаблон:Use dmy dates
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