Thu, Feb 10, 2005
Arena Test Successful
Following the recent successful penetration trial of a Paveway
IV Precision Guided Bomb (PGB), another test example has just been
subjected to an arena test at the Energetic Materials Research and
Test Center in Socorro, NM. The test, conducted by prime contractor
Raytheon Systems Limited (RSL) to demonstrate compliance of the
warhead design to the fragmentation requirements of the U.K.'s
Ministry of Defence (MoD), was conducted successfully on January
11th.
The arena test was another element of the continuing PGB risk
reduction program. Although the PGB warhead design is largely based
on a standard 500lb bomb, a number of design enhancements have been
introduced to improve survivability and to meet the Insensitive
Munitions requirements. This has necessitated a test to confirm
that no adverse effects on the fragmentation pattern had been
introduced.
Speaking after the trial, Graham Viner, PGB Warhead IPT leader
at RSL, said, "The data to be derived from this trial will be
compared to standard fragmentation data that exists for a warhead
of this type. All of the initial indications are that the test
successfully demonstrated compliance to the customer's
requirement."
The arena test provides 360 degree coverage of the warhead and
is configured to capture the fragments deriving from the warhead
case following detonation of the explosive filling and also to
measure the velocity of the warhead fragments following detonation
using cameras located behind steel plates. The fragments are
captured in strawboard packs situated a known distance from the
test hardware.
The enhanced warhead has been designed by Raytheon Missile
Systems in Tucson, AZ, and manufactured by General Dynamics in
Garland, TX.
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