Not at posted coordinates! Be sure to check the logbook for the bonus codes!
No weapon in the arsenal before it made the BUFF a “Long Rifle” more than the AGM-86/B Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM). A beefy missile, larger than the AGM-69 SRAM before it, the ALCM is over 20 feet long, almost 25 inches in diameter, weighs over 3,000 lbs and can fly at least 1,500 miles. The ALCM is propelled by an F-107 turbofan jet engine, with 600 lbs of thrust. The ALCM can carry a W-80 nuclear warhead with up to 150 kiloton yield. The missile employs inertial terrain contour-matching guidance to navigate to its target. The missile’s control surfaces, wings and engine inlet are stowed prior to launch and deployed after launching. Like the AGM-69 SRAM, the ALCM is carried on wing pylons and an internal rotary launcher for a total of up to 20 missiles per aircraft. Unlike the SRAM launcher, the Common Strategic Rotary Launcher is much longer to accommodate the larger ALCM.
In June 1974, ALCM development began, with test flights beginning in 1977. Originally, only 225 operational missiles were expected, and construction started in 1979. In December 1982, the first operational ALCM unit was the 416th Bomb Wing, Griffiss AFB, New York. By October 1986, a significantly larger 1,715 missile force was completed. ALCM was based at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, Fairchild AFB, Washington, Eaker AFB, Arkansas, and Carswell AFB, Texas. Currently, the ALCM is located at Minot AFB, North Dakota, and Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.
With the ALCMs aging (and expected to serve until 2030), replacement missiles (called the Long Range Stand Off /LRSO) are in study for development. The Air Force provided $900 million to both Lockheed-Martin and Raytheon to develop the LRSO, with contract award sometime in 2022.
To find this cache, calculate the coordinates from the information in this listing.
N 48° 18.ABC W 101° 16.DEF
A= Numerical designation of ALCM turbofan engine, F-XXN, A=(Nx1)
B= Approximate diameter of ALCM, NN inches, B=(NN/5)
C= Minimum range of ALCM, N,XXX miles, C=(Nx1)
D= Year in which ALCM development began, XXXN, D=(N/1)
E= Wing numerical designation first operational ALCM was received in December 1982, XNX BW, E=(Nx6)
F= Initial amount of SAC wings armed with ALCM, N wings, F=(N-2)
Dorr, R. & Peacock, L. (1995). Boeing’s Cold War Warrior: B-52 Stratofortress. London, UK; Osprey Aerospace.
https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104612/agm-86bcd-missiles/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W80_(nuclear_warhead)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGM-86_ALCM
https://www.boeing.com/history/products/agm-86b-c-air-launched-cruise-missile.page