Modified JDAM Completes Integration Tests

Someoneforyou

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2011
Messages
990
Likes
51
Direct Attack Moving Target Capability Tests Successfully
UNITED STATES -2 MAY 2011

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. --- The U.S. Navy's Direct Attack Moving Target Capability has successfully completed the final scheduled integrated test, including a live round test conducted March 21.

DAMTC is a modification to the Joint Direct Attack Munition that provides a dual-mode (GPS and laser) guidance capability. The 18 completed tests to date show the requirements to be able to strike a moving and maneuvering target are being met.

"This will give the warfighter the ultimate ability to pursue time-sensitive targets and targets of opportunity," said Capt. Carl Chebi, program manager for Precision Strike Weapons, PMA-201. "That, combined with the dual-mode capability of this weapon, brings a targeting flexibility that will be critical to mission success."

The tests, conducted at Naval Air Warfare Center at China Lake, Calif., use Circular Error Probable, or CEP, as one measure of success. CEP marks the circle around the target within which 50 percent of the bombs are statistically expected to impact.

"While not a statistically relevant number, if five of 10 weapons dropped are in that circle around the target, the weapon has met its CEP requirement," said Mark Lakner, Integrated Product Team Lead for PMA-201's Direct Attack Weapons. "One guided test vehicle has been released in each of the 18 tests thus far, and all tests have been considered successful. "

The inert tests, or ones that do not use live rounds, include a telemetry kit inside the weapon which allows data to be captured. The information collected includes where the weapon is at any given moment and the speed and angle at which it is falling. This helps the test team know exactly what to expect when a live round is released.

"In our live weapon configuration, there's no telemetry kit that fits or is qualified, so we forfeit that information," Lakner said.

During the testing process, DAMTC has undergone a configuration change to replace the current glass window with one made of sapphire, which will better withstand exposure to weather and the elements. To ensure the change does not adversely affect system performance, three additional regression tests are scheduled for July 2011.

In regression testing, one aircraft will be loaded with four weapons – two with the old configuration and two with the new sapphire window. The aircraft will drop one of each type, with GPS coordinates to strike a shipping container designated as 'target A' while a ground laser identifies an alternate shipping container as 'target B.'

"Once the weapon is released, we're going to lase 'target B,' and the weapon should change course and strike there," Lakner said. "Then we'll make a second hot run with reverse target designation. That will complete one flight test."

The test will be repeated two more times to complete regression testing. The additional regression tests are not expected to impact the program's timetable.

"The team has been working at a high tempo against a very aggressive schedule," Lakner said. "They've been dealing with adversity and this is no easy task, but the contractor, the government team, and all involved are doing an exceptional job to make these changes in such a short amount of time."

This target capability provides tactical flexibility for use on all F/A-18 Hornet, Super Hornet and AV-8B aircraft. The modification kit requires minimal logistical adjustments that will save time, money and manpower.

Operational testing is expected to begin in late summer 2011, with DAMTC reaching initial operating capability by late winter 2012.





Source: U.S Naval Air Systems Command
 

Someoneforyou

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2011
Messages
990
Likes
51
Boeing Receives JDAM Contracts Valued at $100M
UNITED STATES - 2 MAY 2011

* NAVAIR signs 1st major production contract for Laser JDAM
* US Air Force orders more than 4,000 Lot 15 JDAMs


ST. LOUIS, May 2, 2011 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has received contracts totaling $100 million for two types of Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits.

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on March 17 awarded the company an $8 million contract that represents the first major production order for Laser JDAM kits. The contract is for low-rate initial production of 700 laser sensor kits for the Navy's direct-attack moving target capability weapons requirement.

The U.S. Air Force announced a $92 million contract for more than 4,000 Lot 15 JDAM kits on March 14. This follows an $88 million contract awarded Jan. 14 for the first 3,500 tail kits in the same lot.

"JDAM has been the warfighter's weapon of choice for more than a decade," said Debbie Rub, vice president and general manager for Boeing's Missiles and Unmanned Airborne Systems division. "Boeing innovation has allowed us to consistently and affordably meet our customers' ever-evolving needs with unprecedented accuracy."

After the Laser JDAM was identified as an urgent operational need by warfighters in early 2007, Boeing completed the weapon's development and testing cycle in less than 17 months. The company delivered the first production Laser JDAM kits to the Air Force in May 2008. Laser JDAM was successfully employed by the Air Force in combat in Iraq in August 2008.

"Adding the laser sensor to the conventional JDAM kit allows warfighters to attack mobile land and maritime targets with precision and reliability," said Dan Jaspering, Boeing director for Direct Attack Weapons. "Laser JDAM is an affordable option that's easy for ordnance crews to install, and very straightforward for conventional JDAM users to adopt."

The Navy's first Laser JDAMs were delivered in October 2008. In March 2010, the Navy selected Laser JDAM to satisfy its direct attack moving target capability mission requirement.

The Air Force continues to use Laser JDAM in theater and it remains the highest-priority weapon sought by Air Forces Central Command. On Feb. 23 -- 27 days after receipt of a contract -- Boeing delivered the first 189 of 550 Air Force low-rate initial production Laser JDAMs to warfighters in theater, in response to an urgent operational need for replenishment assets.

JDAM is a low-cost guidance kit that converts existing unguided free-fall bombs into near precision-guided weapons. In addition to conventional JDAM and Laser JDAM applications, the JDAM Extended Range configuration -- currently in demonstration with an international customer -- is designed to increase the stand-off range to approximately 40 miles. Since JDAM production started in 1998, Boeing has built more than 225,000 JDAM tail kits in its St. Charles, Mo., facility.


Source: Boeing
 

Latest Replies

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top