Posted on 03/21/2007 2:43:46 AM PDT by Dundee
ST. LOUIS, March 19, 2007 -- Two Boeing [NYSE: BA] Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) weapons, each equipped with an Australian-designed and -built modular wing kit, were successfully released from a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18 Hornet during recent flight tests.
Flying at 20,000 feet over the Woomera Prohibited Area in South Australia, a RAAF F/A-18 released the 500-pound Mk-82 JDAM Extended Range (ER) weapons and scored a direct hit on their respective targets. Each weapon demonstrated extended range flyout performance well exceeding that of a baseline JDAM.
"We have demonstrated the impressive capability enhancement that an affordable modular wing kit can bring to JDAM weapons, while simultaneously setting the engineering foundation that will facilitate the fielding of an Australian-designed wing kit to JDAM users around the globe," said Bart Volpe, Boeing JDAM International program manager.
The AIR 5425 JDAM ER test program is a joint effort with the Australian Defence Materiel Organisation, Hawker de Havilland Aerospace Pty. Ltd., and Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. The test team conducted the technology demonstration under the Australian Capability Technology Demonstrator Program, managed by the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO).
The JDAM ER vehicle utilizes a modular wing kit developed by Hawker de Havilland, based on technology licensed by DSTO. The ER wing kit provides more than three times the range of a baseline JDAM and is designed to be installed in the field to existing JDAM weapons. The affordable ER wing kit enhances the already highly capable JDAM into one of the most mission flexible, low-cost weapons available in the world today.
Boeing is working actively with the Commonwealth to develop a roadmap for fielding a JDAM wing kit capability not only for the RAAF, but for other JDAM users worldwide. Many of Boeing's 16 international JDAM customers are showing interest in procuring an extended range capability for their existing JDAM assets.
No bad, not too bad at all.
75 miles range would require a propulsion unit, in addition to the steering kit.
75 miles or not, it's an impressive capability vs. fixed targets.
Nope. Last year a Raptor dropped a JDAM from 50,000ft and hit a target 24 miles away.
SDB glides 40 miles without external propulsion.
Against hardened targets it is a good idea to have the terminal propulsion burst, in addition to the fall speed.
I imagine that bolting on terminal booster wouldn't be too hard.
As a former defense contractor weenie who worked on JDAM during early '90s, I am delighted to see this bomb making marks on the test range and look forward to seeing videos of it blowing up bad guys.
I spent 8 years working on JAVELIN, which is currently deployed by the Army and USMC. Test range video here - http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2650444
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