Raytheon Says Bunker-Busting Tests Went Perfectly

Raytheon Systems Paveway IV Precision Guided Bomb (PGB), which is being acquired by the UK Ministry of Defence, has successfully passed another project milestone. As part of a risk reduction program, a representative weapon has been subjected to a trial to determine the penetration and survivability of the warhead.

This trial, conducted at the Energetic Materials Research and Test Center in Socorro, NM, used representative components including an inert warhead, guidance section and dummy fuze propelled down a sled track at some 300m/s at a finite thickness reinforced concrete target. The enhanced 500lb Mk82 warhead, incorporating design modifications to meet a number of challenging performance requirements, completely perforated the target with minimal damage (as predicted by hydrocode modelling) and with the fuze intact and undamaged, proving the ability of Paveway IV to penetrate a hardened target before detonating.

Speaking after the trial Graham Viner, PGB Warhead IPT leader at Raytheon Systems Limited (RSL), said, "Performing as predicted the Paveway IV warhead punched its way clean through the concrete target in a fairly spectacular manner. The trial was a complete success. This is a tightly-run program being performed under the MoD's Smart procurement principles and risk reduction is an essential element of the program to enable us to meet the 2007 In Service Date."

Also present at the trial was Capt. Howard Holdsworth, RN, PGB Team Leader at the MoD's Defence Procurement Agency, who commented: "RSL's commitment to a comprehensive risk reduction program is to be applauded. The fact that this dynamic test was achieved at this stage in our program is a tribute to the dedication and professionalism of the Warhead Team."

A further risk reduction sled trial will be undertaken in the first quarter of 2005 with additional tests during the course of this year as part of the formal qualification program.

This has been one of a number of trials, all aimed at reducing the overall development program timescale. Other tests successfully concluded have included pit-drop trials from static aircraft and a series of fast and slow cook-off tests addressing the insensitive munitions (IM) requirements on the warhead. Further IM trials are planned in early 2005 together with an arena test as part of the warhead risk reduction program.

Paveway IV is the latest generation of the highly successful Paveway family of precision guided munitions that Raytheon already supplies to the RAF, the United States and 30 other major air arms.

FMI: www.raytheon.co.uk