General Dynamics and U.S. Army ARDEC Demonstrate Low-Cost Precision
Strike Capability for Tactical UAVs
BOTHELL, Wash., Nov. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- General
Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems and the U.S. Army Armament
Research and Development Engineering Center (ARDEC) have
successfully demonstrated a GPS-guided munition for use on small
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). The testing consisted of
three separate engagements using a Tiger Shark UAV launching an
81mm mortar equipped with General Dynamics' Roll Control Fixed
Canard control system and an ARDEC-developed fuzing solution.
All three mortars were launched from a UAV at altitudes of
approximately 7,000 ft and guided to within seven meters of a
GPS-identified target grid.
"This effort demonstrated a low-cost, tactical version of a GPS
strike weapon for UAV platforms," said Mark
Schneider, general manager of General Dynamics Ordnance and
Tactical Systems' Seattle
operations. "Together with ARDEC, we have demonstrated a
weapon in the 10-pound class for tactical UAVs that can be used to
quickly engage and defeat targets. Advancements in GPS targeting
and data-link technology provide a built-in growth path for this
demonstrated technology."
"The Air Drop Mortar (ADM) program with General Dynamics
provided a platform to successfully demonstrate and mature
subsystems including communication links, munition deployment,
guidance and control and fuzing," said Tony
Sebasto, senior associate for Munitions at ARDEC. "The
utilization of existing mortar production components, along with
demonstrated guidance and control and fuzing, gives the U.S.
warfighter an option for a very affordable and very capable
precision strike weapon."
Designed to meet the needs of the Army, Marine Corps and Special
Forces for a rapid target response capability, the ADM uses
existing mortar inventory to provide a low-cost, lightweight weapon
system with proven energetics. The General Dynamics' patented Roll
Controlled Fixed Canard (RCFC) guidance kit, with an innovative
flight-control and GPS-based guidance and navigational system adds
precision-strike capability to existing mortars. The nose-mounted
guidance kit replaces existing mortar fuzes and has been
successfully demonstrated on multiple mortar calibers in both
air-drop and tube-launch applications. The kit provides a common,
multi-platform Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) and
integrated weapon system for unmanned aircraft.
General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems is a
business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
For more information about General Dynamics Ordnance and
Tactical Systems, please visit www.gd-ots.com.
More information about General Dynamics is available online at
www.generaldynamics.com.
SOURCE General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems