The US Air Force awarded Dynetics a contract worth up to $470 million to increase production levels of the GBU-69/B Small Glide Munition (SGM).
The contract is a supplement to a $93 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for up to 900 SGMs awarded in August 2017. The supplemental contract provides for the production of up to 1,000 SGMs per year between fiscal 2018 and 2022, as well as support for testing, training, fielding and employment, according to an award notice posted online.
The increased order was result of early operation success as well as a recent directive by the Secretary of Defense to maximize munition production, according to Dynetics.
The SGM is used aboard the AC-130W and AC-130J gunships, as well as unmanned aerial systems, by US Special Operations Command.
The SGM includes a 27kg warhead with a deployable wing, which allows it to glide after being released, giving the aircraft from which it was dropped the ability to standoff from its target and nearby anti-aircraft weapons.
The system development, qualification, integration, testing and fielding of the SGM was done under an accelerated schedule. SOCOM conducted formal operational testing and evaluation of the SGM in mid-2016, with approval for fielding occurring spring 2017.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
