Posted on 05/05/2005 10:38:15 AM PDT by Righty_McRight
ARCHBALD, PA, May 5, 2005 --
Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] successfully tested Dual Mode Guided Bombs (DMGB) at the U.S. Navy’s China Lake test range. The weapons were released from Navy aircraft and maneuvered through controlled flight and target impact as planned, achieving mission success.
The new Lockheed Martin DMGB gives warfighters the versatility of selecting the ideal guidance mode for specific targets without multiple weapons in inventory. This capability was previously only available on very expensive precision guided weapons.
“The DMGB brings the warfighter high accuracy and versatility at an unprecedented low price,” said Cynthia Sailar, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s facility in Archbald, PA. “Additionally, by utilizing the Paveway II airframe and JDAM aircraft interface, the DMGB introduces advanced capabilities to the services with minimal impact on the logistics infrastructure. These tests, as well as, the overall program’s success are a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of the entire government and contractor team. Our focus will now center on fine tuning the weapon performance and formal qualification efforts.”
Lockheed Martin’s DMGB has three primary operating modes providing the warfighter great versatility in mission planning without changing weapons. In addition to dual-mode guidance, the DMGB can be used with laser or Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) guidance only, providing capabilities duplicating either the existing Paveway II laser-guided bombs or GPS/INS guided weapons such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM).
Laser-guided operation requires the weapon to have line of sight to the target until the target is impacted. During non-visual operation, using solely GPS/INS guidance, the pilot releases the weapon within the launch acceptable region and the DMGB guides itself to the target independently in a “launch-and-leave” mode. This mode is highly accurate enabling precision guidance during adverse weather, clouds, fog and smoke.
Lockheed Martin continues to work closely with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force on the development of the DMGB. The DMGB program provides low-cost guidance kits for MK 82, 83 and 84 general-purpose warheads. DMGB enables employment of accurate air-to-surface munitions from fighter and bomber aircraft against high-priority fixed, slow moving and relocatable targets. DMGB has the same basic physical size and shape of the Guided Bomb Unit (GBU) family. It is compatible with all aircraft that currently support the GBU-12, 16 and 10 and JDAM. DMGB provides a GPS/INS guided, highly accurate, all-weather precision guided weapon with laser terminal guidance to meet needs identified during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Lockheed Martin’s facility in Archbald produces weapon systems for the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army and international armed forces, as well as instrumentation and control systems for the U.S. Navy. The 350,000-square-foot facility, located in northeastern PA, designs, develops manufactures, tests and fields products for the U.S. Department of Defense, allied nations and industrial customers.
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:
Jennifer Allen, (407) 356-5351
e-mail jennifer.l.allen@lmco.com
Just in time for Father's Day next month.
A gift for Lil Kimmy, perhaps ?
Dual mode - Crispy or Extra Crispy.
So my question is thus: If we now have GPS capability to "launch and leave", with the ability to hit the target within a couple of meters, why even spend the additional money to have laser guided capability?
Maybe the GPS capability lets a bomb be launched without the pilot seeing the target, and gets it very close, and then some Special Forces type illuminates the exact point of impact with a laser. You get withing inches instead of a couple of meters. Maybe it isn't necessary, but it can't hurt.
Another scenario is if the GPS system were ever compromised (jamming, or actual shootdown of satellites). The laser serves as a redundant system.
As a professor of mine once said, "When you're talking about a war, where you MUST win, the prime consideration is effectiveness; efficiency suffers as a result, but better to win a war and be a bit poorer, than to be a (temporarily) wealthier loser."
The first thing that comes to mind is hitting a moving or at least movable target. If you want to hit a missile launcher that has been spotted in a certain area, but the enemy has an annoying tendency of moving it around you can still hit it if you have someone pointing a laser at it.
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