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Aviation History
2004
2004-06 - 0023.PDF
u FINALIST TEXTRON SYSTEMS ACHIEVEMENT: Sensor fuzed weapon Textron Systems' Sensor Fuzed Weapon (SFW), known to the US Air Force as CBU-105, was used in combat for the first time during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Work on the SFW began back in 1992, with full-scale production beginning in 1996. The SFW is designed to defeat FINALIST EUROFIGHTER ACHIEVEMENT: Eurofighter Typhoon FINALIST LOCKHEED MARTIN ACHIEVEMENT: Low Cost Autonomous Attack System (LOCAAS) This is the second year in a row that Lockheed Martin's Low Cost Autonomous Attack System (LOCAAS), developed under the sponsorship of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Eglin AFB, has featured as a multiple moving infrared 'significant targets' (tanks) over a wide area. A single SFW can cover up to 121,000m2. Each contains 10 BLU-108 sub-munitions, with each BLU-108 holding four armour-penetrating Skeet warheads. After release from the aircraft, the SFW dispenses the submunitions, which are parachute-stabilised. At a preset alti tude, a rocket motor fires to spin the submunition and initiate an ascent. The submunition then releases its Skeets, which are lofted over the target area. Each Skeet has infrared sensors and a laser rangefinder to profile targets. The sensor detects a vehicle's infrared signa ture, while the active laser system detects the target's profile, and an explosively formed penetrator is fired at the heat source (the vehicle's engine). A new phase in Europe's largest indus trial programme began in June 2003 with the signing of the Eurofighter Typhoon's Type Acceptance documenta tion by the aircraft's four partner nations. The event represented the culmina tion of a 15-year effort by governments, air forces and industry across Europe in a programme designed to underpin the continent's defence and aerospace tech nology well beyond the next decade. At full production (orders for the Typhoon stand at 638, with options for a further 90 examples) the programme will involve some 400 companies across both Europe and the US, with employ- Eurofighter Typhoon Type Acceptance: finalist in this category. The system made two successful flight demonstra tions during 2003. The first flight demonstrated the capability of a miniature cruise missile to autonomously search for a specific military target while rejecting low- priority targets. After finding the target the missile attacked and hit the target with an Explosively Formed Penetrator warhead. The second flight demonstrated the wing deployment and windmill engine start of the missile after deployment from the host aircraft. After achieving cruise conditions, the missile began searching a target area for a particular target; finding The SFW made its combat debut on April 2, 2003 when a B-52 Stratofortress dropped two CBU-105s southeast of Baghdad on an Iraqi tank column threatening a US Marines division. According to reports, the next thing the B-52 crew heard was an awed expletive from a Marine radio operator as the weapons took out the entire first third of the Iraqi column. SFW has another important feature, designed to relieve a long-standing problem with this class of weapon. Traditionally, cluster bombs have had dud-rate problems. Redundant self- destruct logic modes in each Skeet aim to leave no hazardous unexploded ordnance, preventing harm to civilians and allied forces post-battle. ment implications for some 120,000 people. Alongside the Type Acceptance cere mony, the four Eurofighter partner nations — Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK — also agreed to a framework document providing a schedule and commitment to the signature of a Tranche 2 production contract for the aircraft. The third significant achievement for the aircraft last year was the signature of a first export contract, with an order from Austria for 18 aircraft for delivery from 2007. In addition, the aircraft has been shortlisted for Singapore's future fighter project. none, it flew to a second target area using GPS way-point navigation. Upon finding the priority target in this area, the missile attacked the target and fired a warhead shotline camera as a simu lated warhead event. Many first time events were demon strated in these flights for a miniature cruise missile including: multi-mode live warhead target impact, wing deployment, mid-air engine start, autonomous target search and false target rejection in multiple search areas. culmination of a lS-year effort. 21
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