Raytheon
Company successfully demonstrated a wireless method of integrating its
combat-proven Enhanced Paveway™ II precision-guided bomb on the
French Navy RAFALE aircraft. Called WiPAK®, the avionics kit enables
integration of Paveway on a variety of aircraft without any modifications
to aircraft wiring or changes to the flight and stores management software.
"With WiPAK, warfighters can easily and quickly provide targeting
information, employ Paveway and gain all the benefits of a GPS/INS guided
smart weapon for a fraction of what it would cost to integrate weapons
through traditional means," said Harry Schulte, vice president of
Raytheon Missile Systems' Air Warfare Systems. "WiPAK uses wireless
connectivity technology similar to what is being used in laptop and tablet
computers."
During the test, an Enhanced Paveway II GBU-49 was dropped from
the RAFALE aircraft at the Biscarrosse test range in Southwestern France.
The weapon system met all requirements during the demonstration and impacted
the target well within the requirements.
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"Enhanced Paveway II GBU-49 has been in operation
with the French Navy for more than six years on their Super Etendard Modernise.
EPII was used extensively during Operation Harmattan in Libya," said
Schulte. "The success of the SEM program led the French Navy to investigate
adding the Enhanced Paveway II to their next generation RAFALE fighter."
WiPAK consists of a small wireless transmitter, located in the aircraft
cockpit coupled with a pilot interface, and a small receiver affixed to
the Paveway weapon. The WiPAK allows the use of Raytheon's Enhanced Paveway
II family of weapons on aircraft previously unable to carry such precision
smart weapons. Raytheon's WiPAK is a combat proven system, used operationally
on counterinsurgency aircraft. Raytheon is now testing and deploying the
system on other similar aircraft as well as fighter jets.
About Paveway
Raytheon's Enhanced Paveway is a kit that transforms "dumb"
bombs into precision dual-mode, GPS/INS and laser-guided "smart"
munitions. The Paveway family of weapons is integrated on more than 17
aircraft in 42 countries. Raytheon has delivered more than 350,000 Paveway
weapon kits.
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