The US Department of Defense(DoD) has re-instated an effort to enhance the performance of the McDonnell Douglas (MDC) Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), despite test results showing that the weapon exceeds the required accuracy by one-third.

The original JDAM product-improvement programme (PIP) to increase accuracy down to 3m (10ft) circular-error probable was cut early in 1996, and the funding was re-allocated. Recently, however, the PIP was re-instated at the insistence of the US Navy, but funding has yet to found.

The programme office aims to deploy the JDAM PIP in 2002. Seeker candidates allowing for terminal guidance include infra-red, millimetre-wave and synthetic-aperture radar.

MDC was selected in 1995 by the Pentagon to provide JDAM guidance kits to the US Air Force and Navy. Using global-positioning/inertial-navigation kits, JDAM converts free-fall bombs, including the Mk83 450kg and Mk84 900kg weapons and the BLU-109 450kg tactical-munitions dispenser, into increased-accuracy, but non-precise, weapons.

The $2 billion project has been accelerated and the total purchase was increased to 87,500 kits when the USN elected to double its procurement to 24,000 units. The first production kits will cost about $18,000, almost 60% below the $40,000 projected price.

Source: Flight International