After being fielded by the Air Force, Laser JDAM (LJDAM) enters the naval inventory. During flight tests at China Lake, the weapon demonstrated precision hits on moving targets, travelling at speeds up to 85 MPH.
The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has delivered the first production Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM) guidance kits to the U.S. Navy, addressing the service’s need to engage fast-moving land targets. LJDAM adds a Precision Laser Guidance Set to the standard JDAM guidance tail kit to acquire and track laser-targeted signals.
The U.S. Air Force fielded LJDAM in May and has used it successfully in combat. The Navy recently completed an extensive LJDAM flight test program at the Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, Calif., where the weapon was deployed on the F/A-18C/D and AV-8B Harrier aircraft. During the tests, LJDAM successfully engaged both stationary and moving targets, including one traveling at 85 miles per hour. Additional flight tests and clearance activities on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet are expected to begin later in 2008.
