AGM-86 Early Versions and Projects

[Forest Green]

The little known ZAGM-86A. This is the missile that basically explains why a B-1B's bomb bays are too short for the AGM-86B/C/D. It was scrapped for having too short a range... then there was TASSM (also scrapped)... and then the JASSM was developed.

Missile, Cruise, Air-launched, AGM-86A

Long-range, subsonic, winged missile designed to be air-launched from B-52 or B-1 bombers.This is an unflown AGM-86A, the first version of the U.S. Air Force's air-launched cruise missile (ALCM).

airandspace.si.edu

 

[zjz]

IIRC, the original ACLM was sized to fit the rotatory launcher of the SRAM.

When the ACLM was lengthened in the -B version, they have to abandon the requirement.

 

[Forest Green]

Yep, the A version had less range than they envisaged, so the longer -B was too short for the bays of the B-1B and B-52G.

 

[Pioneer]

Well, this is interesting - it's a full size mock up of the XAGM-86 SCAD, fitted with a detachable long-range fuel tank for extended range. The detachable fuel tank was dropped in favour of the longer AGM-86B, which produced the range required.

(Source: Project Terminated, Facebook.)

Regards
Pioneer