Australia 's F/A-18 fighter jets will be equipped with new 'smart' bombs that will provide a state-of-the-art weapon capability that can be accurately fired during day or night and all weather conditions, Michelle Kelly, Deputy Director General Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance, announced this month.
McDonnell Douglas Corporation (a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company) have been chosen as the Defence suppliers of the ‘smart’ GPS guidance kits. Boeing's Joint Direct Attack Munition 'JDAM' solution was selected as the preferred tenderer after a thorough evaluation across a range of areas including operational capability, level of current integration on F/A-18 aircraft, cost and risk.
Michelle Kelly said the new 'smart' bomb technology uses Global Positioning System (GPS) guidance that can be used for dropping general purpose and penetrator bombs.
Signing the agreement
Back row from left: Manager Government Relations Boeing Company, Mr Charles Walford, Business Development Manger Boeing Company, Mr Michael Hostetter, Deputy Director General Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance, Ms Michelle Kelly, AIR 5409 Project Engineering Manger, Squadron Leader Mike Manchée and AIR 5409 Engineering Officer, Flight Lieutenant Matt Hanley
Front row from left: Boeing Company Counsel, Mr Paul LeBar, Weapons Contract Manager Boeing Company, Mr Kevin Mueller, Head Electronic and Weapon Systems Division, Ms Shireane McKinnie and Project Manager, Wing Commander Scott Miller
‘The Government has agreed to purchasing the 'smart' bomb guidance kits to significantly increase the F/A-18 aircraft's combat effectiveness,’ Michelle Kelly said.
The GPS guidance system will provide Australia 's F/A-18's with the capability to more accurately employ general purpose and penetrator bombs at any time of the day and or during any weather conditions. The new guidance kits will transform the aircraft's existing inventory of bombs into 'smart' bombs with vastly improved accuracy and precision. Improved bomb accuracy increases the effectiveness of our F/A-18 strike capability and reduces the risk of any collateral damage if used during an operation.
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 2000Ib successfully dropped from US Navy Hornet
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JDAM in flight |
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The total cost of the project is expected to be over $50 million with the new capability expected to be in service in 2008. This new 'smart' bomb capability will ensure Australia retains a world class strike capability on the retirement of the F-111. In November 2004, a Request for Tender for the Government's Bomb Improvement Program was released to The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation and Raytheon Company.
For more information about the new ‘smart’ bomb please click here http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Oct/20051018.cfm |
