Northrop Grumman says it has successfully demonstrated the integration of a GPS receiver into its Viper Strike laser-guided munition. In tests at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, an unarmed Viper Strike acquired GPS data after being dropped from an aircraft and then flew to pre-assigned waypoints.
The addition of GPS aims to provide the weapon with accurate midcourse guidance, allowing it to be launched from considerably greater altitude and standoff range than can be achieved with its standard semi-active laser seeker. The weapon switches back to the semi-active laser seeker as it enters the target area. The modification both improves the survivability of the launch aircraft and allows it to attack widely separated targets located off its flightpath.
The addition of GPS aims to provide the weapon with accurate midcourse guidance, allowing it to be launched from considerably greater altitude and standoff range than can be achieved with its standard semi-active laser seeker. The weapon switches back to the semi-active laser seeker as it enters the target area. The modification both improves the survivability of the launch aircraft and allows it to attack widely separated targets located off its flightpath.
Source: Flight Daily News