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Denmark first in Europe to drop GPS-guided GBU-31 JDAM from F-16
April 5, 2004 (by
Adi Vaknin) -
Denmark has become the first country in Europe to equip its F-16 Fighting Falcons with GPS guided precision bombing technology and is thus joining an exclusive club of countries with an enhanced all-weather strike capability.
One of the Vipers dropped two JDAM satellite guided bombs on a Norwegian training ground last week from an altitude of 5,000 meters (16,400 feet). Both exploded within two to three meters of their target, and only 35 centimeters from each other.
Although Denmark is a longtime NATO member, the satellite guided bombing capacity has been hindred by the US administration, which refused to deliver the codes needed to transfer target positioning information to the bomb programming mechanism.
To solve the problem, Amercian technicians finally installed an antenna on the tail of each bomb, allowing it to gather the information on the way to the selected target.
The Royal Danish air force is in the process of upgrading its fleet of 61 F-16s, and the first eight aircraft should be equipped with operational satellite guided technology by 2005.
For more information on GPS guided weapons, see: GBU-29/30/31/32 JDAM - Joint Direct Attack Munition
Although Denmark is a longtime NATO member, the satellite guided bombing capacity has been hindred by the US administration, which refused to deliver the codes needed to transfer target positioning information to the bomb programming mechanism.
To solve the problem, Amercian technicians finally installed an antenna on the tail of each bomb, allowing it to gather the information on the way to the selected target.
The Royal Danish air force is in the process of upgrading its fleet of 61 F-16s, and the first eight aircraft should be equipped with operational satellite guided technology by 2005.
For more information on GPS guided weapons, see: GBU-29/30/31/32 JDAM - Joint Direct Attack Munition
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