Posted on 03/30/2005 4:01:59 PM PST by Righty_McRight
OWEGO, NY, March 30, 2005 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] received a $37.8 million contract to provide the U.S. Air Force with Precision Engagement production kits to modify A/OA-10 aircraft. The entire A-10 fleet will be modified over the next five years for an estimated total contract value of $168 million.
The Precision Engagement modification will enable the A-10 to use advanced precision guided weapons, including the Joint Direct Attack Munition and the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser. The modification also adds the capability for advanced targeting pods to improve pilots’ situational awareness.
“The Precision Engagement modification allows aircrews to engage targets from a higher altitude using smart weapons,” said Jeff Bantle, vice president and general manager of Multi-Mission Solutions, Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego. “This not only provides A-10 pilots with greater safety, but it also gives them the capability to more swiftly and accurately eliminate threats.”
The kits include all of the components necessary for the Air Force to configure A-10 aircraft with the Precision Engagement capability. The upgrade also includes adding a Central Interface Control Unit (CICU), which provides a digital stores management system, two multifunction color displays, and new cockpit controls, and doubles the direct current generator capacity.
“These modifications significantly strengthen an aircraft our warfighters rely on for the impressive close air support it provides,” Bantle said. “We’re committed to ensuring its reliability and utility so our warfighters can achieve mission success.”
Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego is the prime contractor on the Precision Engagement modification, under the direction of the A-10 program office (508th Attack Sustainment Squadron), leading a team composed of BAE Systems, Southwest Research Institute and Northrop Grumman. The production kits, a result of work by Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and Southwest Research Institute, are one component of the Precision Engagement program.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2004 sales of $35.5 billion.
Contact:
Leslie Holoweiko,
(607) 751-2598;
e-mail, leslie.holoweiko@lmco.com
This is a true bargain my friends.
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Cool stuff - I worked at Nellis when the A-10 was first tested - the "guidance system" then was a grease pencil mark on the canopy. After they got the gun gas ingection problem solved, it was ready for the 'nam....
But - missed it by that much.
But that means they skimped on the armour. Our tanks are so heavy, because they have DU armour. I wonder what a 120 mm DU round would do to one of their tanks?
Skimpy on armour,yes, but we should remember that the Russians were among the first to go in for the use of explosive reactive armour(ERA) as well as active countermeasures systems to defeat projectiles & missiles fired at it.The newer Type-90s & Type-98s are known to have ERA as well as some laser based countermeasures system.Since no Western tank or military has ever faced such tanks,I don't think there is much use in comparing it with an M1.IIRC,during the 2 Iraq wars,M1s took out Iraqi T-72s with single shots,though the models Iraq had were early generation ones with no night vision capability & poor choice of munitions.
PS-Another innovation is that the Type-90s & 98s can fire laser guided missiles from their guns.
http://www.sinodefence.com/army/tank/default.asp
This site is a pretty useful resource,though Id advice you take a pinch of salt while visiting.
The fast movers saved the A-10. Widely deployed gun type ground defense systems ( considered the A-10s greatest vulnerability ) were proved the least useful by precision munitions dropped from the fast movers. Smart weapons aren't as costly or scarce as when the decision was first made to get rid of the A-10. Multi purpose AA systems that were once considered the A-10s Achilles Heel are joining the scrap heap of military history due to being proved a waste during both Gulf Wars. Most potential enemy's future Anti Aircraft systems are going to be improved AA missile based, which work better against the fast movers, almost passing the A-10 by. What was once considered the A-10s greatest weakness is now one of it's greatest strengths .
Thanks for the ping. As always, nice to hear the A-10 is appreciated. Boeing was going for the contract but gave it up because the contract wasn't big enough.
Thanks for the heads up.
This is just an opinion from what I have read but, I don't think that the F-35 will ever be a real replacement for the rough life that an A-10 has to endure.
"(T.U.S.K. upgrade = a GOOD idea)."
What is this? Is it for the tank or plane?
Apparently there were 710 A-10's built. 367 are still in service - according to the History Channel's special - ON NOW!
Sorry. For the tank.
The TUSK package was released as an upgrade package for the M1 Abrams which deals specifically with lessons learned (AAR) from Iraq. In different unspecified situations, certain "issues" were identified which were addressed by the upgrade kit. Our armored Cav forces will be better prepared to deal with future challenges based upon lessons learned in the field.
"take a pinch of salt while visiting"
Roger that/always do! Same deal with the DPRK official web site, and a truck load of the "others".
Researching a couple diff. weapons systems, I came across a Russian "inspired" web site, that basically said "the best" X Y Z etc in the world (for everything). Please.
Please, tell them to can the online PSYOP, it is so ..... unconvincing
thanks
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