JDAM hits the mark

Volume 48, No. 18, October 05, 2006
By Andrew Stackpool

IN FLIGHT: This F/A-18 was armed with a 1000lb JDAM and 1000lb laser-guided bomb with a Time/Space Position Information pod on the wing tip during Developmental Test and Evaluation at Woomera. Photo by CPL Pete Gammie

THE provision of advanced guided weapons for the Hornet fleet has taken a step closer to reality.

Aerospace Operational Support Group’s (AOSG) recent deployment to the Woomera Test Facility has laid the foundations for the introduction of new guided weapons for the F/A-18.

The new capability is the US Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), a GPS-aided guidance kit that may be fitted to ADF “dumb” bombs to provide an all-weather, autonomous, precision air-to-ground weapon capability.

SQNLDR Danny Sgalippa, the Defence Materiel Organisation’s Advanced Aircraft Bombs Project Engineering Manager, said that in October 2005, the Commonwealth entered into contract with the McDonnell Douglas Corporation, a subsidiary of the Boeing company, to procure four variants of JDAM.

“The four variants are compatible with Air Force’s 500 (Mk 82), 1000 (Mk 83) and 2000 (Mk 84)-pound general-purpose bombs and 2000-pound penetrator bombs (BLU-109),” he said.

“Under the current project schedule, JDAM will be released for initial operational service prior to January 2008.”

The program conducted Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E) trials to verify the integration of the JDAM with the F/A-18 and prove the airworthiness of the new aircraft/weapon combinations.

The trials included the release of live ordnance.

Several agencies, including internal branches of AOSG, the Royal Australian Navy’s Ranges and Assessing Unit and 77SQN, as well as DMO and Boeing, participated in the test program.

Follow-on JDAM testing is scheduled for later in 2006. This testing will be conducted by one of the F/A-18 squadrons to evaluate JDAM’s performance under operationally representative conditions, prior to its service release.

“The introduction of JDAM to the F/A-18 fleet represents a significant advancement in combat capability,” SQNLDR Sgalippa said.

“The ability to strike fixed and relocatable targets with precision accuracy in all weather conditions will enhance the efficiency of the Hornet as a strike platform, exposing fewer aircraft and aircrew to threats in an operational environment.

“In its current configuration, the F/A-18 can carry four JDAMs. The procurement of BRU-55 stores suspension equipment will double the maximum carriage capability to eight for 500 and 1000-pound variants of JDAM.

“The BRU-55 acquisition is being jointly managed by the Advanced Aircraft Bombs Project Office in Canberra and the Hornet Weapons Integration Team at the Tactical Fighter Systems Project Office, RAAF Base Williamtown,” he said.

As part of Project AIR 5425, two extended-range JDAMs were also released from an F/A-18 during these trials, with both successfully gliding to their intended targets.

AIR 5425 is part of the DSTO Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) Program. Under the CTD program, Melbourne-based Hawker de Havilland collaborated with DSTO and Boeing to integrate a range-extending wing kit with a production JDAM guidance kit. The wing kit is intended to significantly increase the range of the weapon and enhance the survivability of the delivery aircraft. The kit’s design being trialled in AIR5425 uses licensed technology from DSTO’s “Kerkanya” wing kit.

“The 500-pound version of JDAM was integrated with the wing kit for the CTD,” SQNLDR Sgalippa said. “The concept has the potential to enhance the survivability of the delivery aircraft by allowing the weapon to be employed from significantly greater range, while retaining the inherent accuracy of the JDAM system.”

The DT&E program also marked the first release of 1000lb (454kg) bombs from Australian Hornets.

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