Skyshark (cluster bomb)
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| CASMU Skyshark | |
|---|---|
 A Skyshark can be seen on the right wing, closest pylon to the fuselage | |
| Type | cluster munition dispenser |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1987 |
| Manufacturer | CASMU Consortium |
| No. built | at least 6 [1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) |
| Length | 4.75 m (15.6 ft) |
| Effective firing range | 8–12 km (5.0–7.5 mi) unpowered 20–25 km (12–16 mi) with rocket) |
| Payload capacity | 745 kg (1,642 lb) |
| Maximum speed | mach 0.8 |
Guidance system | inertial |
The Skyshark was a canceled stand off guided cluster munition dispenser. created in a joint venture between Aeritalia and Snia-BPD known as CASMU.[1] It was designed to be launched from the Panavia Tornado or AMX. Once released from the aircraft It would fly to a specified location and drop its submunitions using a lateral ejection system.[2] The Skyshark has a length 4.75 m, wing span of 1.5 m, overall weight of 1000 kg.[3][2] It was one of the earliest Italian designs to incorporate stealth aspects such as radar absorbent materials and a minimized radar cross section.[2] It was developed as an evolution to the German MW-1 submunition delivery system which could be fired off instead of remaining an integral part of the airplane. Three variants of the Skyshark were designed; an unpowered glider variant, a rocket powered variant, and a turbojet powered variant. It had an un-powered glide range of between 6 and 12 km with a rocket powered option giving 20 to 25 km of range, turbojet powered version was exported.[3][4] Flight tests for the weapon began in 1987.[5] Skyshark development ended in 1993 when development funding was cut.
