Lockheed Martin,
Archbald PA: Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy conducted a series of successful flight tests at the Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, CA, successfully releasing four GBU-12 (500-lb class) Paveway II Dual Mode Laser Guided Bombs (DMLGB) from a single F/A-18 aircraft.
These successful tests achieved complex pilot-coordinated maneuvers and the GPS/INS guidance tests used pre-programmed coordinates and the aircraft's existing targeting pod to hit the intended targets.
Complex aircraft maneuvers were performed to demonstrate the weapon's capability in various tactical scenarios. GPS/INS guided flight was demonstrated using both pre-programmed target coordinates and coordinates obtained by using the existing targeting pod.
Test results demonstrated multiple DMLGB weapons released against one target and the capability to simultaneously track a second target using laser designation. The pilot also successfully demonstrated the ability to retarget the DMLGB by reprogramming the coordinates in the weapon prior to release, which will be effective in tracking re-locatable targets.
During an urban environment operations test, the weapon was able to demonstrate critical turning maneuvers towards the intended target using GPS-aided INS guidance, successfully impacting the designated target and demonstrating its capability to minimize collateral damage.
