Release altitude have very significant impact on fly range of air launched weapons
- For example: JSOW released at high altitude can fly as far as 130 km while at low altitude, It can barely fly 22 km. That a different of 6 times. That because JSOW has no self propulsion system of itself and rely on a design with very high glide ratio of 12:1
- For rocket propulsion weapons such as AASM, at high altitude release, it can fly as far as 50 km while at low altitude, it can barely fly 15 km. That a different of only 3.3 times in range. That because AASM have short burn rocket propulsion system but very little glide capability
- For cruise missile with turbojet engine and small glide ratio (short small wing) such as JSM. In high-high-high mission profile, it can fly as far as 555 km. In low-low-low mission profile it can only fly 185 km. That a different of only 3 times in range. That because JSM have efficient propulsion system but very little glide capability
But how about cruise missile with efficient turbojet engine but also have effective glide ratio such as SPEAR, SLAM-ER ?. How does low altitude release affect missile range?. What would be the ratio between high altitude range/low altitude range?
- For example: JSOW released at high altitude can fly as far as 130 km while at low altitude, It can barely fly 22 km. That a different of 6 times. That because JSOW has no self propulsion system of itself and rely on a design with very high glide ratio of 12:1
![IMG_5839.jpeg IMG_5839.jpeg](https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/data/attachments/274/274255-69ca11c6e95ab4859b8eb3c8fb11a88a.jpg)
- For rocket propulsion weapons such as AASM, at high altitude release, it can fly as far as 50 km while at low altitude, it can barely fly 15 km. That a different of only 3.3 times in range. That because AASM have short burn rocket propulsion system but very little glide capability
![IMG_5840.jpeg IMG_5840.jpeg](https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/data/attachments/274/274256-d11d9022d1eebfcb3a0c5790423a7c1d.jpg)
- For cruise missile with turbojet engine and small glide ratio (short small wing) such as JSM. In high-high-high mission profile, it can fly as far as 555 km. In low-low-low mission profile it can only fly 185 km. That a different of only 3 times in range. That because JSM have efficient propulsion system but very little glide capability
![IMG_5842.jpeg IMG_5842.jpeg](https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/data/attachments/274/274257-ac2e0e9a15f05b2500bb41feaa40e18b.jpg)
But how about cruise missile with efficient turbojet engine but also have effective glide ratio such as SPEAR, SLAM-ER ?. How does low altitude release affect missile range?. What would be the ratio between high altitude range/low altitude range?
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