Posted on 09/19/2003 12:28:21 AM PDT by Paleo Conservative
ST. LOUIS, September 17, 2003 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Air Force successfully completed their first 80 guided weapon flight test demonstration of the MK-82 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). The drop took place from a B-2A bomber on September 10 at the Utah Test & Training Range, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
The B-2A aircraft, based at Edwards AFB, Calif., flew to the test site and released the 80 weapons in a single 22-second pass. The weapons were released from four Boeing-designed and built “smart” bomb racks, flew their planned flight paths and attacked all 80 targets.
“Placing maximum steel on the target is what we get paid to do as Air Force bomber pilots and that happened today in a big way,” said Major William Power, 419th Flight Test Squadron B-2A project pilot. “Dropping 80 JDAM MK-82s in less than 30 seconds, with each attacking their own individual targets, is truly revolutionary.”
JDAM is a low-cost guidance kit that converts existing unguided free-fall bombs into accurately guided “smart” weapons. Boeing produces kits for 2,000 and 1,000-pound warheads and recently completed development for the 500-pound JDAM. The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a production contract to produce the first 5,800 MK-82 JDAMs which will be available in 2004.
“This historic drop clearly demonstrates the incredible capability of the MK-82 JDAM,” said Mike Marks, vice president and general manager of Air Force fighter, bomber and weapons programs, for Boeing. “This smaller warhead allows the warfighter to increase the number of weapons and subsequent targets while reducing collateral damage.”
The B-2 flight test program began in February 2003 as part of a separate contract to integrate the MK-82 JDAM and concluded with the 80-weapon demonstration.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, or IDS, is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $25 billion business. It provides systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services.
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I believe it is twenty.
Just imagine, if a B-2 came in overhead with 80 500lb NUKES.
Flying too high for most anti-aircraft missles.
Now imagine that you are a terrorist/communist regime.
Time to change soiled underpants? :)
I'll take this question.
It would take some engineering to adapt a C-5 or 747 to drop 500lb bombs. It could be done, but it would include a re-design for both airframes as both of them were not designed for bombing (no bomb bays, no openings on the underside).
The real meaning of this test is to warn our enemies that our most invisible bomber is no longer limited to 2,000+ bombs.
The B-2 can now fly above most missle capabilities (IF the enemy radar could see her), and drop 80 500lb bombs. On target to one meter (a few inches over a yard).
And no force on earth can stop the B-2 from delivering this hellish payload.
Now, expand your imagination for a little while.
A NUKE now weighs a lot less than 500 lbs.
The B-2 flys so high that most forces can't hit one. And most forces (Russian and Chinese) can't hit ALL of them.
80 guided NUKES.
Think about that.
Our enemies are certainly thinking about that, and it makes their bowels weak.
FReegards, FRiend.
We are winning!
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