Douglas Barrie/LONDON
The Royal Air Force and Royal Navy are aiming to introduce an improved accuracy, increased stand-off, air-delivered bomb into service on their combat aircraft by 2003.
Under the programme, the RAF's Panavia Tornado GR4, British Aerospace Harrier GR7, Sepecat Jaguar GR1B, Eurofighter EF2000 and the Royal Navy's British Aerospace Sea Harrier F/A2 will all be capable of carrying the improved accuracy bombs.
The Ministry of Defence has set a target unit cost of £20,000 ($33,000) for the kits to upgrade the RAF and RN's standard 450kg and 225kg bombs.
The kits are intended to improve accuracy to a circular error probability of 50ft (15m), while the MoD views any increase in the stand-off range as "highly desirable".
To keep the cost of the upgrade as low as possible, the RAF is keen to retain the characteristics of the improved bombs as close as feasible to the original weapons. This is intended to keep to minimum aircraft integration and weapon clearance requirements.
The upgrade kit will also have to be compatible with the Thomson Thorn multi-function fuze fitted to the RAF bombs.
The MoD requirement is attracting the attention of several contenders, although no firm teaming agreements have yet been declared.
Industry sources suggest that Matra BAe Dynamics and Lockheed Martin could team to offer an upgrade using elements from the latter's Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser. Boeing is likely to offer elements of its Joint Direct Attack Munition. Raytheon, GEC-Marconi, Aerospatiale and Hunting are also likely to figure among the bidders.
During 1997 the French and UK defence ministries considered releasing a joint request for information on a family of increased accuracy bombs. Differing time scales and diverging requirements thwarted this ambition.
There are indications, however, that France's Armement Air-Sol Modulaire project may be affected by an ongoing defence review, which could delay the programme or reduce the level of funding available for development.
Industry might yet have an opportunity to address the requirements of each country with similar solutions.
Source: Flight International
