Mon, Apr 21, 2008
Boeing has delivered the first Laser
Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM) kits to the U.S. Air Force.
The Precision Laser Guidance Set (PLGS) kits are being produced to
satisfy the Air Force and Navy's urgent need for engagement of
fast-moving land targets.
The initial $28 million LJDAM contract, awarded in May 2007,
will add 600 laser seekers to the services' existing inventory of
500-pound bombs. The First Article Acceptance Testing (FAAT) of
production units was completed in March. The Air Force performed
the FAAT guided flight tests at the China Lake, Calif., test range
with drops from F-15E and F-16 aircraft. The tests demonstrated
LJDAM's ability to engage and destroy targets moving at up to 70
miles per hour. The Navy also initiated its LJDAM guided flight
test program in March with multiple drops from an AV-8B against
moving targets. Additional Navy testing is planned from an F/A-18.
LJDAM is expected to be operational this year with both the Air
Force and Navy. Boeing will deliver the contracted kits by June
2009.
"Boeing's early investment in Laser JDAM technology laid the
foundation for meeting this urgent operational need to intercept
high-speed targets. Because of Boeing's strong belief in Laser
JDAM, we were able to deliver a capability to the warfighter in 11
months," said Lynda Rutledge, director of 708th Armament Systems
Group at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
"This on-schedule transition to production and overall fielding
effort has been a great team effort between Boeing, our customer
and our suppliers," said Dan Jaspering, Boeing Direct Attack
program manager. "We are truly excited to be getting this urgently
needed capability to the warfighters."
The Laser JDAM PLGS is a modular laser sensor kit that is easily
installed onto existing JDAM weapons in the field. The laser sensor
supplier to Boeing is EFW Inc., based in Fort Worth, Texas. The
laser sensor further enhances the highly capable Global Positioning
System/Inertial Navigation System JDAM. LJDAM provides low-cost
flexibility to engage fast-moving and stationary targets of
opportunity with a single weapon.
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