I'd like to see the "low bidder" on this contract...
er... well it takes 500 lbs of "Quick-rete" and uh... you pack it into this metal tube with a couple of fins and GPS..
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> I'd like to see the "low bidder" on this contract...
Although the inert bomb might be substantially cheaper
than a live bomb, it also might not.
I suspect that initially, they just replaced the HE
with 'crete, and left everything else in place,
including the no-longer-needed fuzing system.
More recent bombs may omit the fuzing, but they must
have the precision guidance package, and that's not cheap
(compared to the cost of the empty shell). Inert bombs
are definitely cost effective compared to sending
precision ground teams to take out the same target.
I recognize that photo. That is NOT a concrete filled JDAM, or any other sort of guided bomb. It's full up 500 pound Paveway Laser Guided bomb. The next photo in the sequence shows the bomb exploding. A later one shows what's left of the truck, the rear axle, less wheels and brakes. :)
Originally produced by Texas Instruments in Sherman, Dallas and Lewisville Texas, they are now produced in Tuscon by RatCo, er Raytheon, which bought TI's defense unit in 1998 or so.