22 Seconds of 'Get-Ready-for-Hell'

Boeing and the U.S. Air Force successfully completed their first 80 guided weapon flight test demonstration of the MK-82 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition. The drop took place from a B-2A bomber on September 10 at the Utah Test & Training Range, Hill Air Force Base (UT).

The B-2A aircraft, based at Edwards AFB (CA), flew to the test site and released the 80 weapons in a single 22-second pass. The weapons were released from four Boeing-designed and built "smart" bomb racks, flew their planned flight paths and attacked all 80 targets.

"Placing maximum steel on the target is what we get paid to do as Air Force bomber pilots and that happened today in a big way," said Major William Power, 419th Flight Test Squadron B-2A project pilot. "Dropping 80 JDAM MK-82s in less than 30 seconds, with each attacking their own individual targets, is truly revolutionary."

JDAM is a low-cost guidance kit that converts existing unguided free-fall bombs into accurately guided "smart" weapons. Boeing produces kits for 2,000 and 1,000-pound warheads and recently completed development for the 500-pound JDAM. The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a production contract to produce the first 5,800 MK-82 JDAMs which will be available next year.

"This historic drop clearly demonstrates the incredible capability of the MK-82 JDAM," said Mike Marks, vice president and general manager of Air Force fighter, bomber and weapons programs, for Boeing. "This smaller warhead allows the warfighter to increase the number of weapons and subsequent targets while reducing collateral damage."

The B-2 flight test program began in February 2003 as part of a separate contract to integrate the MK-82 JDAM and concluded with the 80-weapon demonstration.

FMI: www.boeing.com