1,000-pound VB-3 "Razon" Air-to-Surface Missile

Body diameter, inches

Warhead

Fuzing

Nose

Tail

M167

Construction: The VB-3 is a guided bomb similar to the VB-1, with the major differen-ce that its flight may be controlled in range as well as in azimuth, and is known generally as the "Razon" bomb. Like the VB-1, it has special tail unit fitted to a 1,000-pound G.P. body, and is normally released from high altitude by use of a conventional bombsight, the guided action being relatively small, so that the trajectory at the time of impact is es-sentially vertical.

Tail unit: The controls for the VB-3 are contained in the cylindrical section of the tail unit and consists of a radio receiver, a gyro, and a servo motor. Surrounding this unit are two shrouds; the forward shroud merely stabilizes the bomb in flight, while the after con-tains the stabilizing ailerons and range/azimuth control ailerons.

On each of the four struts supporting the after shroud is an aileron controlled by the gyro. These four ailerons steady the bomb and prevent it from rotating while in flight. They are set 90° apart and operate in pairs; i.e., those ailerons placed opposite to each other move together in unison.

Four more ailerons are located on the outer surface of the after shroud. These are ai-lerons which control the trajectory of the bomb and adjust its flight in azimuth and ran-ge. They also work in pairs, and are operated by connecting rods which pass through the control unit and are activated by the servo motor. At present two bombardiers are re-quired with the VB-3 bomb; one controls range and the other azimuth. They work inde-pendently of each other and, by use of a special bombsight, they are always able to see the bomb in flight, superimposed on the target. As the bombardiers manipulate their con-trol switches, radio waves are sent to the receiving unit in the tail. This unit activates the servo motor, which, in turn, moves the ailerons on the shroud, altering the flight of the bomb.

As in the VB-1, flares are employed to assist the bombardier in the visual control of the flight of the bomb. Currently used flares are the T6E1 (white), T7E1 (red), and T8E1 (green). They are of 1,000,000 candlepower, electrically ignited three to four seconds after release, and with one to two minutes of burning time. Mechanically-activated flares - T21, T22, and T23 - are under development.

Suspension: Suspension lugs are welded to the case in a manner similar to the G.P. bombs.

Figure 387. VB-3 "Razon"