General Dynamics and U.S. Army ARDEC Demonstrate Low-Cost Precision Strike Capability for Tactical UAVs

BOTHELL, Wash., Nov. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems and the U.S. Army Armament Research and Development Engineering Center (ARDEC) have successfully demonstrated a GPS-guided munition for use on small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).  The testing consisted of three separate engagements using a Tiger Shark UAV launching an 81mm mortar equipped with General Dynamics' Roll Control Fixed Canard control system and an ARDEC-developed fuzing solution.  All three mortars were launched from a UAV at altitudes of approximately 7,000 ft and guided to within seven meters of a GPS-identified target grid.  

"This effort demonstrated a low-cost, tactical version of a GPS strike weapon for UAV platforms," said Mark Schneider , general manager of General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems' Seattle operations.  "Together with ARDEC, we have demonstrated a weapon in the 10-pound class for tactical UAVs that can be used to quickly engage and defeat targets. Advancements in GPS targeting and data-link technology provide a built-in growth path for this demonstrated technology." 

"The Air Drop Mortar (ADM) program with General Dynamics provided a platform to successfully demonstrate and mature subsystems including communication links, munition deployment, guidance and control and fuzing," said Tony Sebasto , senior associate for Munitions at ARDEC.  "The utilization of existing mortar production components, along with demonstrated guidance and control and fuzing, gives the U.S. warfighter an option for a very affordable and very capable precision strike weapon." 

Designed to meet the needs of the Army, Marine Corps and Special Forces for a rapid target response capability, the ADM uses existing mortar inventory to provide a low-cost, lightweight weapon system with proven energetics. The General Dynamics' patented Roll Controlled Fixed Canard (RCFC) guidance kit, with an innovative flight-control and GPS-based guidance and navigational system adds precision-strike capability to existing mortars. The nose-mounted guidance kit replaces existing mortar fuzes and has been successfully demonstrated on multiple mortar calibers in both air-drop and tube-launch applications. The kit provides a common, multi-platform Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) and integrated weapon system for unmanned aircraft.

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

For more information about General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, please visit www.gd-ots.com.

More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.

SOURCE General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems

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