Raytheon Says Bunker-Busting Tests Went Perfectly
Raytheon Systems Paveway IV Precision Guided Bomb (PGB), which
is being acquired by the UK Ministry of Defence, has successfully
passed another project milestone. As part of a risk reduction
program, a representative weapon has been subjected to a trial to
determine the penetration and survivability of the warhead.
This trial, conducted at the Energetic Materials Research and
Test Center in Socorro, NM, used representative components
including an inert warhead, guidance section and dummy fuze
propelled down a sled track at some 300m/s at a finite thickness
reinforced concrete target. The enhanced 500lb Mk82 warhead,
incorporating design modifications to meet a number of challenging
performance requirements, completely perforated the target with
minimal damage (as predicted by hydrocode modelling) and with the
fuze intact and undamaged, proving the ability of Paveway IV to
penetrate a hardened target before detonating.
Speaking after the trial Graham Viner, PGB Warhead IPT leader at
Raytheon Systems Limited (RSL), said, "Performing as predicted the
Paveway IV warhead punched its way clean through the concrete
target in a fairly spectacular manner. The trial was a complete
success. This is a tightly-run program being performed under the
MoD's Smart procurement principles and risk reduction is an
essential element of the program to enable us to meet the 2007 In
Service Date."
Also present at the trial was Capt. Howard Holdsworth, RN, PGB
Team Leader at the MoD's Defence Procurement Agency, who commented:
"RSL's commitment to a comprehensive risk reduction program is to
be applauded. The fact that this dynamic test was achieved at this
stage in our program is a tribute to the dedication and
professionalism of the Warhead Team."
A further risk reduction sled trial will be undertaken in the
first quarter of 2005 with additional tests during the course of
this year as part of the formal qualification program.
This has been one of a number of trials, all aimed at reducing
the overall development program timescale. Other tests successfully
concluded have included pit-drop trials from static aircraft and a
series of fast and slow cook-off tests addressing the insensitive
munitions (IM) requirements on the warhead. Further IM trials are
planned in early 2005 together with an arena test as part of the
warhead risk reduction program.
Paveway IV is the latest generation of the highly successful
Paveway family of precision guided munitions that Raytheon already
supplies to the RAF, the United States and 30 other major air
arms.