The UK Ministry of Defence has shortlisted MBDA and Raytheon Systems UK for its Precision Guided Bomb (PGB) competition. The former is offering the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)with Boeing and Insys while Raytheon is proposing the Enhanced Paveway.
France's Sagem, offering the Armament Air Sol Modulaire guidance system, has been eliminated.
The PGB will equip standard 225kg (500lb) Mk82-type warheads with new guidance systems and an enhanced fuze and is intended to counter problems using laser-guided weapons in poor weather, which obscures the target and makes precision visual guidance impossible. To circumvent the problem, global positioning system (GPS)-satellite navigation is added to the guidance system.
JDAM is a GPS guidance kit while the Enhanced Paveway, already ordered by the UK, adds a GPS capability to the Paveway's laser seeker.
The MoD says Phase 2 will include a "more detailed" evaluation of the bids and initial contract talks. BAE Systems will also evaluate the bids to consider integration issues with the BAE/Boeing Harrier GR9, Eurofighter, Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and Panavia Tornado GR4.
Source: Flight International
