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5 juin 2015 5 05 /06 /juin /2015 07:30
JDAM GBU-30 MER

JDAM GBU-30 MER

 

June 4, 2015: Strategy Page

 

Israel recently ordered $1.9 billion worth of smart bombs from the U.S. This order mainly consists of JDAM (22,000 kits for 500, 1,000 and 2,000 pound bombs). Nearly half the JDAMs are for 500 pound bombs. Also included are 1,500 Paveway laser guided bomb kits. These kits are added to an unguided bomb to create a GPS guided JDAM smart bomb. A number of non-kit smart bombs were also ordered including 4,100 SDBs (Small Diameter Bomb) and 3,000 Hellfire missiles. Also included were 250 AMRAAM air-to-air radar guided missiles and sundry test and maintenance equipment for all these smart bombs. This order is for expanding the Israeli Air Force war reserve and meant to cope mainly with a massive rocket attack by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

 

In late 2013 the U.S. Department of Defense suddenly increased the number of JDAM smart bomb kits ordered 17 percent (to 212,588). Over 250,000 JDAM kits have been manufactured since 1998 and the U.S. has been the biggest customer followed by Israel. This is all about stocking up for “The Big One.” The U.S. Air Force (along with the navy, marines, and army) are all moving away from using air power against terrorists and irregular troops, towards what they all refer to as “Bombing Beijing” or North Korea or Iran. This is a major change from how American air power has been used for the past two decades. In that time there has been a lot of bombing but not much opposition to the American aircraft. Since GPS smart bombs and targeting pods were introduced in the 1990s, bomber pilots have had their job reduced to that of a bomb-truck driver.

 

The U.S. believes the key air weapon will be smart bombs, especially the JDAM and JSOW (powered JDAM). Thus the heavy orders for JDAM, to build up the war reserve in case there is what the planners call a “major war”.  Meanwhile, the U.S. has built up a huge arsenal of smart bombs. After the invasion of Iraq, the U.S. Air Force ordered a sharp increase in JDAM production, aiming for 5,000 JDAM a month. They ended up needing far less. In 2005, about 30,000 JDAM were ordered. That fell to 11,605 in 2006, and 10,661 in 2007. In 2008, only 5,000 were ordered. But now the orders are over 10,000 a year again. Most of those ordered in the past few years are being put into the war reserve. Only a few thousand a year are actually being used, and this includes those expended during training. The war reserve contains over 100,000 kits, to be used in some unspecified, but big, future conflict. Air warfare planners see the most likely major conflict as one involving China. Despite the dependence on GPS, JDAM has been adapted to resist the jamming and, if that fails there is a backup INS guidance system that, while not as accurate as GPS is accurate enough for most targets.

 

JDAM smart bombs were developed in the 1990s, shortly after the GPS network went live. These weapons entered service in time for the 1999 Kosovo campaign and have been so successful that their use has sharply reduced the number of bombs dropped and the number of sorties required by bombers. The air force generals are still trying to figure out where this is all going. Now the big effort is directed towards using all this new tech to shut down a more feisty and capable opponent like China (or Iran or North Korea, two more feisty but less well equipped foes).

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10 février 2015 2 10 /02 /février /2015 07:50
F-16CD Jastrząb fighter Foto Michał Wyszkowski

F-16CD Jastrząb fighter Foto Michał Wyszkowski

 

7 février Aerobuzz.fr

 

Varsovie lance un appel d’offres pour l’achat de missiles air-air moyenne portée AIM-120 Amraam de Raytheon, des missiles d’entrainement et des bombes air-sol pour ses avions de combat F-16. Cette tendance qui s’ajoute à la volonté de rééquiper les forces terrestres et navales du pays démontre la volonté polonaise de se protéger contre toute velléité militaire Russe.

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4 février 2015 3 04 /02 /février /2015 06:50
F-16C/D Jastrząb fighter

F-16C/D Jastrząb fighter

 

January 31, 2015 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Defence24.com Poland; published January 31, 2015)

 

Poland’s Armament Inspectorate has started a tender to acquire AMRAAM training missiles, and 200 guided and 300 unguided bombs for the Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Jastrząb fighters stationed at the Łask AB. Final offer placing deadline expires on 2nd March this year.

 

This is yet another armament bundle for the aircraft based at the 32nd Tactical Air Base.

 

The tender is to make it possible to realize the following purchases:

-- 32 practice CTAM-120C AMRAAM missiles,

-- 100 GPS-guided GBU-38 JDAM Bombs (based on Mk. 82 500 lbs. bombs),

-- 100 laser guided GBU-12 bombs (also based on the Mk.82 bombs) ,

-- 200 Mk. 84 unguided bombs (1000 lbs.),

-- 100 Mk.82 bombs and

-- 3000 CXU-3A/B practice bomb signal cartridges, which are used to indicate the hit point of the dummy bombs.

 

The final part of the tender is to involve up to 5 bidders, who are experienced in provision of such supplies, and have at least 5 years of experience gathered within the European Union.

 

95% of the assessment of the offers is based on the price, while the remaining 5% are to be based on maintenance services.

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14 août 2014 4 14 /08 /août /2014 11:30
Turkey - AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM Missiles

 

Aug 12, 2014 ASDNews Source : Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)

 

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Turkey for AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM missiles and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $320 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on August 11, 2014.

 

The Government of Turkey has requested a possible sale of 145 AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), 10 missile guidance sections, and 40 LAU-129 launchers, containers, support equipment, spare and repair parts, integration activities, publications and technical documentation, test equipment, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor logistics, engineering and technical support, and other related elements or logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $320 million.

 

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19 novembre 2013 2 19 /11 /novembre /2013 18:20
AIM-120 AMRAAM advanced medium range air-to-air missile fitted in a weapons bay of a F-22A Raptor aircraft.

AIM-120 AMRAAM advanced medium range air-to-air missile fitted in a weapons bay of a F-22A Raptor aircraft.

 

 

19 November 2013 airforce-technology.com

 

Nammo Group has delivered an additional AIM-120 advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) rocket motor to Raytheon.

 

Representing an overall 1,000th AMRAAM rocket to have been delivered to date by Nammo, the newly delivered rocket is scheduled to be installed in an under-production AIM-120C7 missile later this month.

 

Nammo is supplying motors at the rate of approximately 90 motors a month, after being certified as an AMRAAM rocket motor supplier for Raytheon following a lengthy qualification process in October 2012.

 

Raytheon Missile Systems AMRAAM programme director Ronald Krebs said the Raytheon-Nammo partnership has been a model of success throughout 2012.

 

"Raytheon has worked extremely hard to make certain our end-user customers continue to receive AMRAAM missiles on schedule," Krebs said.

 

Raytheon Missile Systems president Dr Taylor Lawrence said, "The teamwork between Raytheon and Nammo has contributed significantly to our shared success."

 

Under development since 1998, the AIM-120C-7 is an upgraded variant of the AIM-120C AMRAAM missile, featuring extended range and enhancements in homing capability.

 

The missile is currently being manufactured for both domestic and foreign military customers.

 

Powered by a solid-propellant rocket motor, the AIM-120 is a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) designed for all-weather, day-and-night operations, and represents the US military's standard air intercept missile carried on tactical fighter aircraft.

 

Having demonstrated operational flexibility in both air-to-air and surface-launch engagement scenarios, the AMRAAM also serves the baseline missile for the Nato-approved national advanced surface-to-air missile system (NASAMS) long range air-defence system.

 

The combat-proven missile is purchased by 36 countries worldwide, and is currently integrated on the F-16, F-15, F/A-18, F-22, Typhoon, Gripen, Tornado, Harrier and F-4 fighters, while installation is underway on the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter (JSF) aircraft.

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4 novembre 2013 1 04 /11 /novembre /2013 07:20
F-35A Conducts 1st Live Fire With AMRAAM

 

 

Oct 31, 2013 ASDNews Source : US Air Force

 

The F-35 Lightning II executed its first live-fire launch of a guided air-to-air missile over a military test range off the California coast on Oct. 30.

 

The AIM-120 advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) was fired from an F-35A (AF-6) conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant fighter operating from the F-35 Integrated Test Facility at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

 

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