MBB Jumbo

[Hood]

]After the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the lessons learnt from that conflict the West German Ministry of Defence began a programme to develop a medium-range stand-off missile. MBB began work on a concept codenamed Jumbo but never progressed past the mock-up stage. In 1976 technical problems and financial constraints killed the programme. The lack of international partners and the inability to get the interest of other NATO nations to join the development meant it went no further. It had a turbojet powerplant, weighed 1,150kg, was 5.24m long, 50cm diamter and in layout was very similar to the Kormoran. It had TV terminal guidance.
Sources:
http://http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1974/1974 - 1258.html?search=MBB Jumbo

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1987/1987 - 1020.html?search=Missile

 

[Jemiba]

From Bill Gunston "Die illustrierte Enzyklopädie der Raketen und Lenkwaffen":
It should have been fitted with different warheads from 500 to 800kg, so that
maximum launch weight probably would have been more, than the stated
1.150 kg, I think. Radar guidance was planned, too.

 

[Vahe Demirjian]

I found this MBB advertisement regarding the Jumbo at these links:

12/1975 PUB MBB JUMBO AIR TO GROUND GUIDED MISSILE ROLAND MAMBA MILAN HOT AD | eBay

J'ai d'autres pubs MBB! N’oubliez pas de m’ajouter à votre liste de favoris ! ENVOI TRES SOIGNE. DATE : 12/1975.

www.ebay.com

Classic British Aviation Industry Advertisements 1909 - 1990

Historic British Aviation Advertisements 1909-1990. 87,000 classic British aircraft industry adverts for you to browse through and enjoy.

www.aviationancestry.co.uk

 

[Odysseus1980]

Unfortunately Flightglobal links does not work. Could someone extract info about the Jumbo missile from those links, please?

 

[xena]

Has someone new information about this program? Or actual links of the former links above? There is little to nothing to find out about this development.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

JUMBO AIR-TO-SURFACE MISSILE

DESCRIPTION
Jumbo is a large, long-range stand-off air-to-surface missile being developed by Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH under contract to the Federal Ministry of Defence. It is intended for use against large or high-value surface targets, and it is proposed to deploy this missile with the MRCA and F-4 Phantom aircraft. Dimensions are: length 5.24m, diameter 50 cm, span 1.25m, and weight approximately 1150 kg Guidance during the cruise phase will be by autopilot/ inertial system, with TV target aquisition and homing for the terminal phase. The crew of the launching aircraft will be provided with a monitor screen for viewing the television pictures relayed via a telemetry link from the Jumbo missile. The complete system consists of the missile itself and an electronics package which will be carried by the aircraft as an external store, thus eliminating the need of a large, permanent installation inside the aircraft.
It also enables the Jumbo system to be adapted to various aircraft types.

DEVELOPMENT
Jumbo is under development by MBB under a West German Ministry of Defence contract. There is a possibility that the programme may eventually become an international project according to MBB.

Source: Jane's Weapon Systems 1974-75

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Jumbo details released

Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm has released details of its Jumbo stand-off air-to-surface missile (see photograph) being developed to arm, initially, Luftwaffe F-4s and MRCAs. The weapon will be used to attack point and area targets from long ranges, and can be launched from virtually any operational
altitude.

It seems likely that the missile can follow a variety of flightpaths to the target, using an inertial platform and radar altimeter. Guidance during attack is by command from the launch aircraft, the missile carrying a television camera. Equipment for the video/command link is housed in a pylon-mounted pod on the lines of those used with AJ168 Martel and Condor, and this pod may also contain the computer necessary to feed the missile with flightpathinstructions
before launch.

MBB emphasises Jumbo's long range, and it is probable that turbojet propulsion is employed. The weapon weighs some 1,150kg, is 5-24m long, 50cm in diameter, and has a span of 1.25m. Its similarity to MBB's Kormoran anti-ship missile is evident, although it is twice Kormoran's weight and may carry a warhead as large as 500kg.

Jumbo would seem to be a formidable weapon, although it is difficult to understand why a missile designed for use in northwest European weather should rely on television guidance for attack. There may, however, be plans for later installation of a dual-mode radar/television seeker head, similar to that being developed for Rockwell's Condor, to allow use in all weathers and at night. MBB expects Jumbo to become a collaborative project.

Source: Flight International 29 August 1974

The first attempt to create a stand-off missile (SOM) in Germany ran concurrently with the development of the Tornado almost 15 years ago. The Luftwaffe had recognised early that the permanently growing sophistication and efficiency of the Warsaw Pact air defences would eventually turn any overflight of enemy-held territory into a very hazardous undertaking. This assumption was considerably enhanced when the Israeli Air Force took a severe beating during the early days of the 1973 October War, while attempting to support the hard-pressed ground troops. The situation changed for the better when the surface-to-air missile belts were overrun by the counterattacking Israeli Army. That event gained Israel an air superiority which permitted intensive close air support and contributed greatly to winning the war. As a result of this experience in late 1973 the West German Ministry of Defence ordered the development of a medium-range stand-off missile which would permit air attack on heavily protected targets from a safe distance. MBB rose to the challenge and began work on a weapon code-named Jumbo. It never progressed past the mockup stage, and in 1976 the programme was cancelled because of technical difficulties and lack of funding.

Moreover, it was soon discovered that the research and development involved would be of such magnitude as to be beyond the budgetary means of a single country. While searching for partners in Europe, the Luftwaffe was unable to generate any notable enthusiasm for the new concept. This lack of partners who would be willing to share the financial burden contributed substantially to the collapse of Europe's first SOM project.

Source: Flight International 20 June 1987

These are the two missing articles.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Jumbo, a large bridge—busting television-guided missile weighing over 2,000 lb. Prime purpose of Jumbo, which is scheduled to be operational by 1978, is to knock out large bridges in the path of tank attacks. The missile will be too large for German air force F-104Gs, which have a dual nuclear-conventional mission. It will be part of the MRCA's armament. MBB is applying much of its experience with the Kormoran air-to-surface anti-shipping missile to the
Jumbo development program.

AWST 24 April 1972

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Note that Flight says development was ordered in late 1973 but MBB had discussed Jumbo with AWST in Feb 1972.

 

[xena]

So there was never any hardware... OK. Thanks.

 

[armen]