LockMart Receives Contract for Laser-Guided Training Rounds

TECH SPACE

The Lockheed Martin Laser Guided Training Round (LGTR) provides realistic Paveway II Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) (GBU-10/12/16) tactical employment training as an alternative to expending operational LGB assets. The LGTR accurately emulates the laser guided bomb envelope, flight characteristics and guidance system of the Paveway II system. Since its deployment in 1992, Lockheed Martin has sold over 35,000 units to U.S. and 9 allied nations to successfully train aircrews in place of more expensive Laser Guided Bombs. The LGTR has provided the U.S. Navy and International customers the optimal training solution for semi-active, laser guided weapons in a very cost effective manner. Live-fire training with the LGTR permits aircrews to practice delivery tactics in a real-mission environment and experience actual weapon characteristics with today's range limitations. The LGTR emulates the GBU-10, -12 and -16 LGBs and replicates mission parameters for realistic tactics and employment of the Paveway II system. In addition, the lower unit cost of the LGTR leads to more aircrew training opportunities.

Archbald PA (SPX) May 04, 2005
Lockheed Martin has received a contract valued at approximately $26 million to deliver laser- guided training rounds (LGTRs) to the U.S. Navy next year. The contract includes four one-year options for LGTRs each year through March 2009, totaling $114 million if all options are exercised.

"Live-fire training with LGTR permits aircrews to practice delivery tactics in real-mission environments and experience actual weapon characteristics with today's range limitations," said Capt. David Dunaway, U.S. Navy program manager, Naval Air Systems Command (PMA-201), in Patuxent River, MD.

"Lower unit cost leads to more training opportunities. Using the LGTR conserves the precision-guided weapon inventory for tactical missions. With increased training opportunities, proficiency is maintained in LGB tactics leading to warfighter mission success."

"Laser-guided training rounds are a categorical advancement in training practices for the Marine and Navy branches," stated U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA).

"With this new contract, Marine and Navy aviators can utilize the innovative technology of the laser-guided bombs, but at a lower cost to the military.

"I applaud the skilled men and women of the Lockheed Martin-Archbald facility for their innovative foresight, and for their commitment to equipping our service men and women with the tools they need to respond to worldwide threats."

"It is essential that our military forces be proficient and capable in their mission skills before deploying to a military conflict or wartime engagement," said U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA).

"These training rounds - in partnership with flying training hours - will allow our pilots to be well skilled and better able to conduct their missions in theaters like Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I salute the Lockheed Martin workers for their efforts and hard work that will enable our military personnel to meet our national security objectives and goals."

"The Laser-Guided Training Round is a great success story for the Navy and for Lockheed Martin," said U.S. Representative Don Sherwood (R-PA).

"The people at the Archbald plant had the foresight more than a decade ago to develop the LGTR to help the Navy reduce training costs. That has led to not only the production of thousands of training rounds, but also to more than $300 million in new work since 2002 to produce laser-guided bombs.

"The result is about 200 new jobs at the Archbald plant, and millions of dollars of savings for the military and for the taxpayers."

Since 1990, the Lockheed Martin facility in Archbald, PA, has delivered more than 45,000 LGTRs to the U.S. Navy and 12 other international customers.

The LGTRs are used to train aircrews at a significantly reduced cost as compared to using laser-guided bombs. Lockheed Martin in Archbald supplies both the LGTRs and tactical laser-guided bomb (LGB) kits.

"We will continue to focus on providing the best value solution to the Navy through continued performance enhancements of the live-fire trainer while maintaining a very competitive price," said Cynthia Sailar, vice president and general manager at Lockheed Martin in Archbald, PA.

"We are proud of our award-winning team's performance in meeting the warfighters' needs over the past 15 years and we look forward to our continued partnership with the Navy."

TECH SPACE

Purdue Engineers Use 'Shaped' Laser Pulses In 'Ultra-Wideband' Research

West Lafayette IN (SPX) Apr 06, 2005
Engineers at Purdue University have developed a technique that could result in more accurate "ultra-wideband" radio signals for ground-penetrating radar, radio communications and imaging systems designed to see through walls.