25 Sep 12. Boeing recently received a $22.7m modification to an existing U.S. Navy contract for more than 2,300 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (Laser JDAM) sensors, starting full-rate production to meet the Navy’s Direct Attack Moving Target Capability (DAMTC) program requirement. JDAM is a low-cost, modular guidance kit that converts unguided free-fall bombs into near precision-guided weapons. Laser functionality boosts the weapon’s effectiveness against moving targets, maritime threats and other relocatable targets. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) awarded the firm-fixed price contract modification on July 17. Deliveries under this contract begin in spring 2013 and continue through spring 2014. Boeing completed the development and testing cycle for Laser JDAM less than 17 months after the capability was identified as an urgent operational need in early 2007. The company delivered the first production laser sensor kits to the U.S. military in 2008, and the U.S. Air Force successfully employed them in combat in Iraq that same year. Since starting JDAM production in 1998, Boeing has built more than 238,000 tail kits in its St. Charles, Mo., facility – on time and at cost – for use by the U.S. Defense Department and 26 international militaries.
21 Sep 12. A recent U.S. Army and Navy test proved the Raytheon Company JLENS can integrate with defensive systems currently in the U.S. Navy’s inventory to provide, for the first time, overland cruise missile defense from the sea. During the test, a JLENS’ fire-control radar acquired and tracked a surrogate anti-ship cruise missile target. The track information was passed to sailors via the Raytheon-made Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) sensor-netting system. The sailors then fired a Raytheon-made Standard Missile-6 at the target. Initial SM-6 guidance used targeting information provided by the JLENS via CEC to the Aegis Weapon System (AWS) until the SM-6’s onboard radar was able to acquire and track the target.
25 Sep 12. Lockheed Martin recently conducted two separate DAGR® missile flight tests, successfully firing the missiles from a prototype pedestal launcher and hitting a stationary target. The tests, which took place at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., demonstrated DAGR’s capability as a ground-based weapon. In each flight test, an inert DAGR missile locked onto the laser spot illuminating the target before launch. Upon launch, each missile flew 3.5 kilometers and hit the target within one foot of the laser spot. Lockheed Martin’s pedestal launcher features four M299 launcher rails, associated cables and electronics, providing full compatibility with HELLFIRE® II and DAGR missiles. DAGR’s canister mounts to the pedestal launch rails as it would on a standard HELLFIRE launcher designed for aircraft.
13 Sep 12. Raytheon continues Patriot overtures to German government. Raytheon has held “congenial” talks with the German government in recent days with regard to its offer to provide its upgraded Patriot air-defence system in place of the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), a company official told IHS Jane’s on 12 September. Speaking at the ILA Airshow in Berlin, William Blake, Director Integrated Air and Missile Defense, said that Raytheon “is continuing to make the German government aware of opportunities that exist [to upgrade its existing Patriot systems]”. Raytheon has been making overtures to Berlin for a couple of years, but the recent decision by the US government to effectively end its participation in the tri-national MEADS programme once the current capability demonstration phase ends at the beginning of 2014 has given added impetus to the company’s efforts. (Source: Jane’s)
24 Sep 12. Indian Army successfully test launches Agni-III. The Indian Army’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC) has conducted the fifth successful test launch of its nuclear capable surface-to-surface missile Agni-III from Wheelers Island off the Orissa coast, India. Conducted a