Date:    Mon, 4 May 1998 15:30:30 -0500
Sender:  Air Force News Service <AFNS@AFPRODUCTS.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:    "90. USAFnews" <usafnews@AFNEWS.AF.MIL>
Subject: 05may98 - afns

980590.� GPS, JDAM communication upgrade kits ready for B-1B
         by 1st Lt. Matt Keiper
         B-1B System Program Office

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) -- A new weapon will make
the B-1B Lancer more lethal and bring the Air Force weapons arsenal into
the 21st Century.

In early April, two of the first seven sets of the B-1B Global
Positioning System Joint Direct Attack Munition, or JDAM, and
communication upgrade modification kits arrived at Tinker Air Force
Base, Okla., for installation into the bomber.

Managed by the Aeronautical Systems Center B-1B System Program Office at
Wright-Patterson, the B-1B Lancer conventional mission upgrade
programming is configuring the B-1B to carry out its role as the primary
Air Force long-range heavy bomber for conventional warfare.

The depot at Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center will install the
modification kits in this initial block of bombers by January 1999.
This will give Air Combat Command seven JDAM-capable B-1B bombers 18
months ahead of schedule.

These modifications will significantly improve both the lethality and
the survivability of the B-1B, allowing the war fighters to strike
multiple, hardened targets on a single pass with highly accurate JDAM
weapons.� The B-1B is capable of carrying up to 24 of these munitions at
once - eight in each of its three weapon bays.� The JDAM used on the
B-1B is a 2,000-pound bomb variant, which is guided to its target using
GPS information.

The ongoing B-1B JDAM flight test continues to produce better than
expected accuracy scores.

"B-1 JDAM development test scores are the best to date for horizontal
targets (like low bunkers and aircraft on the ground), and are tied for
first place for vertical targets (like tall buildings)," said Lou
Cerrato, chief of the weapons development integrated product team, JDAM
Joint Program Office in the B-1B SPO.

While the GPS, JDAM and communication upgrade modification kits are
being installed, the depot also will install the ALE-50 towed decoy
system, which will provide greater survivability against defensive
threats during combat missions.

Completion of fleet-wide, B-1B JDAM capability is scheduled for early
2001 and the towed decoy installation is slated to be completed in 2003.

"This is an exciting time for the B-1B community," said Lt. Col. Ernie
Speck, program manager for the B-1B GPS, JDAM and communication upgrade
program at the B1-B SPO.� "We are seeing excellent flight test results
and will deliver this much needed capability to the war fighters later
this year."

The modified bombers will be delivered to Ellsworth AFB, S.D., later
this year. Upon arrival, the modified bombers also will be fitted with
modified, multi-purpose rotary launchers, giving the B-1B the ability to
employ the new JDAM weapon.

[End]

