Forum: F-16 Armament & Stores

Boeing Delivers 1st Laser JDAMs

ST. LOUIS, April 16, 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] 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.

Source: http://www.boeing.com/ids/news/2008/q2/080416c_nr.html

Boeing delivers laser sensor kits to USAF

Published: April 16, 2008 at 3:43 PM

ST. LOUIS, April 16 (UPI) -- Boeing has handed over its first Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition kits to the U.S. Air Force.

The company said in a statement Wednesday that the Precision Laser Guidance Set kits were designed to allow U.S. Air Force and Navy aircraft to hit rapidly moving land targets.

The $28 million LJDAM deal was made in May 2007, and in all Boeing will manufacture 600 laser seekers to be attached to the Army and Navy's reserves of 500-pound bombs.

The First Article Acceptance Testing of production units was carried out in March by the U.S. Air Force at the China Lake, Calif., test range. They were launched from F-15E and F-16 aircraft.

The tests confirmed that the LJDAM could locate and hit targets at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. The U.S. Navy also launched its LJDAM guided flight test program in March and carried out multiple drops from an AV-8B against moving targets too, the company said.

The U.S. Navy also plans to carry out exercises with the LJDAM launched from an F/A-18. The laser-guided munition is scheduled to be in combat service this year with both the Air Force and Navy, and Boeing said all the kits would be finished and handed over 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 war fighter 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 war fighters."

The laser sensors are made for Boeing by EFW Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas.

Source: http://www.upi.com/International_Securi ... usaf/4064/

Boeing Delivers First Laser JDAMs

by Staff Writers
St Louis MO (SPX) Apr 18, 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.

Source: http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Boeing_ ... s_999.html

Boeing Scores Direct Hit in Laser JDAM Moving Target Test

ST. LOUIS, July 11, 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE:BA] successfully tested its Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM) weapon system June 30 against a moving target.

"Laser JDAM's performance continues to exceed our highest expectations," said Boeing LJDAM Program Manager Scott Van Dyke. "LJDAM has the flexibility to engage both fixed and moving targets. This weapon will fill a significant gap in capability currently encountered by our warfighting customers."

During the test at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., a U.S. Air Force F-16 flying at 20,000 feet scored a direct hit on an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) moving at 25 mph. Using its onboard targeting pod, the F-16 laser-designated the APC and released the 500-pound LJDAM approximately four miles from the target.

The Laser JDAM sensor is a modular kit that is easily installed in the field to the front of existing JDAM weapons. The laser sensor further enhances the highly capable Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System JDAM into one of the most mission flexible, low-cost weapons available in the world today.

Boeing will complete its development of the 500-pound LJDAM in 2006. Initial production deliveries are planned to begin as early as 2007.

Source: http://www.boeing.com/ids/news/2006/q3/060711a_nr.html