GEC-Marconi Dynamics plans to conduct company-funded flight tests of its Diamond Back smart-bomb wing kit at a US military range within the next 12 months, says John Cleveland, the company's project manager.
Under development for the last four years, the Diamond Back attachment could be used to extend the range of several weapons, including the Boeing Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), the Lockheed Martin Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser, the Northrop Grumman global positioning system (GPS)-aided targeting system/munition and the in-development Small Bomb System (SBS). The California-based GEC-Marconi subsidiary also believes that the Diamond Back could satisfy a UK Ministry of Defence need to upgrade its 455kg iron bombs.
The Diamond Back is a strap-on kit with a fold-out joined wing designed to increase the stand-off range and cross-track manoeuvrability of smart bombs. For example, the effective range of a JDAM launched at 25,000ft (7,600m) would rise from 18.5km (10nm) to 65km, says Cleveland. Windtunnel-testing was conducted under the US Air Force Boeing Small Smart Bomb project.
Source: Flight International
