Lockheed Martin bags deal to supply laser-guided bombs to IAF

[SpArK]

Lockheed Martin bags deal to supply laser-guided bombs to IAF


US defence major Lockheed Martin has bagged a deal expected to be worth over Rs 100 crore for supplying laser-guided bombs (LGBs) for the Jaguar fighter aircraft fleet in the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The IAF plans to induct more than 100 bunker-buster LGBs for its Jaguar warplanes to destroy strongly fortified enemy targets.

"We have emerged as the lowest bidders in the deal for supplying LGBs to the IAF. We have offered our Paveway II LGBs for the Jaguars and contract negotiations are on in this direction," Lockheed Martin India head Roger Rose told PTI here.

The IAF had issued a global Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purpose last year, and Lockheed Martin along with Raytheon and an Israeli missile manufacturer had taken part in the tender.

With their capability to pierce hard surfaces, the LGBs can also be used to destroy enemy's concrete runways and fortified locations.

LGBs are guided projectiles that use lasers to strike a designated target with greater accuracy than a gravity bomb and were used with high accuracy by the IAF against Pakistani Army posts during the Kargil war in 1999.

Around the same time, the US had supplied some Paveway bombs to India which could be launched from the Jaguar and Mirage 2000 planes for accurately striking enemy targets.

The earlier lot of the American bombs to the IAF was supplied by Raytheon.


Lockheed Martin bags deal to supply laser-guided bombs to IAF - The Economic Times

 

[Omega007]

Why just 100??By the way,there is a 500 kg anti air strip bomb under production in OFB. . . . .

 

[Abingdonboy]

Wow, fast deal! These are coming in quick succession, keep them coming!!

 

[Raje amar]

Why just 100??By the way,there is a 500 kg anti air strip bomb under production in OFB. . . . .

Exactly,
why to buy the amunation when we have one of our own. Did LM provided us with something that our LGB's lack in?

India develops first Laser Guided Bomb
Dehradun: India has developed its first Laser Guided Bomb (LGB), a weapon that can hit a target with greater accuracy, with technological support from city-based Instrument Research and Development Establishment (IRDE).

The development of technology for producing Laser Guided Bomb is part of ongoing research towards achieving self-dependency in the defence area being done in IRDE, a lab of DRDO, Scientist and Public Relation Officer of IRDE told PTI.

The LGB uses a laser designator to mark or illuminate a target. The reflected laser light from the target is then detected by the seeker which sends signals to the weapon's control surfaces to guide it towards the designated point, he said.

IAF AN-32 medium-lift tactical transport aircraft liberates rockets at Pokhran.
Bangalore-based Aeronautics Development Establishment (ADE) has developed the guidance-kit for 1000-pound LGBs and these are designed to improve the accuracy of air-to-ground bombing by IAF.

The guidance kit of LGB consists of a computer control group (CCG), guidance canards attached to the front of the warhead for providing steering commands and a wing assembly attached to the aft end to provide lift.

India had already carried out two successful flight trials of LGB for the IAF to test the effectiveness of the guidance and control systems at Chandipur integrated test range in Orissa early this year.

LGBs are manoeuvrable, free-fall weapons requiring no electronic interconnect to the aircraft and attack the target with higher accuracy and reliability.

The LGBs were first developed by USA in 1960s. Later, Russia, France and Britain also developed them.

India develops first Laser Guided Bomb - India News - IBNLive

 

[Omega007]

Wow, fast deal! These are coming in quick succession, keep them coming!!

HELL YEAH mate.Have you noticed that AF and Navy modernisation is going on a rapid pace but Army is lagging far behind.

 

[Bl[i]tZ]

But when we pounded the hills during the Kargil war, I thought these guys were Paveway III. Why are we going back for Paveway II?

The Paveway III system was also used during the Indian offensive in the Kargil War of 1999 by the Indian Air Force with the Mirage 2000 as a launch platform.

The wiki also reads that III is substantially costlier than II which is substantially costlier than I. Any thoughts?

 

[Omega007]

Exactly,
why to buy the amunation when we have one of our own. Did LM provided us with something that our LGB's lack in?

India develops first Laser Guided Bomb
Dehradun: India has developed its first Laser Guided Bomb (LGB), a weapon that can hit a target with greater accuracy, with technological support from city-based Instrument Research and Development Establishment (IRDE).

The development of technology for producing Laser Guided Bomb is part of ongoing research towards achieving self-dependency in the defence area being done in IRDE, a lab of DRDO, Scientist and Public Relation Officer of IRDE told PTI.

The LGB uses a laser designator to mark or illuminate a target. The reflected laser light from the target is then detected by the seeker which sends signals to the weapon's control surfaces to guide it towards the designated point, he said.

IAF AN-32 medium-lift tactical transport aircraft liberates rockets at Pokhran.
Bangalore-based Aeronautics Development Establishment (ADE) has developed the guidance-kit for 1000-pound LGBs and these are designed to improve the accuracy of air-to-ground bombing by IAF.

The guidance kit of LGB consists of a computer control group (CCG), guidance canards attached to the front of the warhead for providing steering commands and a wing assembly attached to the aft end to provide lift.

India had already carried out two successful flight trials of LGB for the IAF to test the effectiveness of the guidance and control systems at Chandipur integrated test range in Orissa early this year.

LGBs are manoeuvrable, free-fall weapons requiring no electronic interconnect to the aircraft and attack the target with higher accuracy and reliability.

The LGBs were first developed by USA in 1960s. Later, Russia, France and Britain also developed them.

India develops first Laser Guided Bomb - India News - IBNLive

Most probably this is an interim order to fill the gap untill Sudarshan LGB kit gets inducted.

 

[jack47]

I never thought that india could get its hands on these! the problem of delay in induction still prevails!!

 

[sancho]

Exactly,
why to buy the amunation when we have one of our own. Did LM provided us with something that our LGB's lack in?

Because these are not normal LGB kits, but bunker-busters:

Bunker buster

A bunker buster is a bomb designed to penetrate hardened targets or targets buried deep underground.

Bunker buster - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But when we pounded the hills during the Kargil war, I thought these guys were Paveway III. Why are we going back for Paveway II?

No it was Paveway II and it depends on which weapons can be integrated to the fighter and which weight class IAF wants too. Back then we used 1000lb bombs, but if wiki is correct, Paveway III has only 500lb and 2000lb versions:

Paveway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[T90TankGuy]

HELL YEAH mate.Have you noticed that AF and Navy modernisation is going on a rapid pace but Army is lagging far behind.

the AF and Navy are just better co ordinated . they are much better when it comes to organization in terms of acquisition's.

 

[lightoftruth]

Paveway II Plus Laser Guided Bomb (LGB)
Paveway II Plus LGB is the latest development in the Lockheed Martin paveway II
family of laser guided weapons. The updated guidance package inside the MAU-209C/B
computer control group (CCG) provides precise, accurate target impacts, ensuring more
bombs on target!
The aerodynamic properties, exterior dimensions, and overall weapon mass properties
of the MAU-209C/B CCG remain the same as existing paveway II CCGs. The MAU-
209C/B CCG can be used in all paveway II weapon configurations and is compatible with
the MK 80 series and BLU-109 warheads. The state-of-the-art guidance system converts
conventional gravity bombs into precision guided munitions. A semi-active laser seeker
and pneumatically-controlled canards guide the weapon. The air foil group (AFG) includes
extending wings to provide lift and stability.
The paveway II Plus LGB can be carried and released from all U.S. Air Force and
U.S. Navy manned and unmanned aircraft currently carrying LGBs, and from international
platforms authorized to carry and release paveway II LGBs. The paveway II Plus LGB
is compatible with existing paveway II LGB logistics infrastructure, handling equipment,
procedures and aircrew operations.
. Benefits
• Interchangeable, interoperable with existing CCGs and AFGs
• Affordable, best-value design
• No impact on aircraft software, ballistics tables or operational tactics
• Longer release range compared to tail control weapons
• Glass detector lens prevents pitting encountered with a plastic lens
• Aluminum detector housing prevents moisture intrusion and lens clouding that can occur
with a composite detector housing
• High, out-of-box reliability
• 10-year shelf-life
• Uses existing LGB logistics support
• Compatible with existing test sets: TTU-373, TTU-550, TTU-594, TTU-595
• MAU-209C/B CCG is field programmable, allowing easy installation of future capability
• Future development includes moving target capability, INS/GPS guidance, impact controls,
and trajectory shaping.
Lockheed Martin has produced paveway II LGB guidance systems and laser guided
training rounds since 1990. More than 150,000 systems have been delivered to domestic and
international users.
Paveway II Plus LGB is the best, low-cost solution for accurate engagement of
high-value targets.
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed/data/mfc/pc/paveway-ii-plus-laser-guided-bomb-lgb/mfc-paveway-ii-plus-lgb-pc-af.pdf

 

[angeldemon_007]

What happened to drdo built LGB ???

Livefist: DRDO: Indian Laser Guided Bomb Kits Successfully Tested By IAF

 

[mautkimaut]

these are bunker buster bombs, SUdarshan is a LGB kit,

Bunker Buster bombs are different then normal LGB kit added to dumb bombs

 

[Nirvana]

HELL YEAH mate.Have you noticed that AF and Navy modernisation is going on a rapid pace but Army is lagging far behind.

Another reason why Army lags behind in Modernisation is because Major part of Funds that are allocated to Army from annual Budget goes towards Maintaining an Army of 1 million

 

[Omega007]

@Sancho and mautkimaut,
Buddies,any LGB kit can be fitted with any free fall gravity bomb-be it a bb or an air bursting doesn't matter and Pave way II or Sudarshan both are LGB kits;not bombs.In this case the Paveway guidance kit is fitted with most probably Mk 83 1000 lb or Mk84 2000 lb bombs.Even the Sudarshan LGB kit can be fitted with GBU if US allows.So your comment "these are bunker buster bombs, SUdarshan is a LGB kit,

Bunker Buster bombs are different then normal LGB kit added to dumb bombs" is totally wrong. Both are LGB kits and can be fitted with any gravity bombs.....................................