The U.S. Navy Tactics Development programme was able to maneuver Lockheed Martin's paveway II Dual Mode Laser Guided Bomb (DMLGB) successfully. The exercise was conducted at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center located in Nevada.

The naval exercise ranged over the span of four missions scheduled for two days when F/A-18C/D Hornets along with the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets launched 36GBU-12F/B bombs equipped with the paveway II DMLGB guided applications.

These bombs were used on fixed targets in srategic engagements and they successfully demonstrated the enhanced operational advantage of these weapons. They were able to meet the all the standards that were marked for them, said a press release.

Coupled with a GPS/Inertial Navigation System (INS) guidance with the usual laser-guided paveway II weapons, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps were able to carry out their mission with precision. The kits used were able to operate in laser mode alone, INS/GPS mode or in combinatin of these modes to offer flexibility for engagement to pilots on different targets on one mission. The testing of these weapons proved that the latest paveway II DMLGB updated to Block II Operational Flight Program software enhances the performance of weapons and efficiency of all the three modes of release.

Joe Serra, Locheed Martin Missles and Fire Control's precision guided systems manager said, "We worked closely with our U.S. Navy and Marine Corps customers to develop the Block II Operational Flight Program software upgrade to the paveway II DMLGB guidance kits," adding, "Delivered to the fleet earlier this year, the enhanced fire-and-forget technology of our DMLGB kits provides naval warfighters with a mature and highly maneuverable all-weather direct-attack capability."

The crew participating in the exercises included aircrews from the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center and the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine (VX-9) Vampires located at Naval Air Weapons Station in China Lake, California.

Sierra noted, "The same company-wide discipline that provides customers with affordable single-mode LGB targeting capability is applied to our current and future dual-mode weapons to provide U.S. and international customers with the most affordable and reliable precision capability."

Lockheed has updated approximately 7,000 paveway II LGB guidance kits on dual mode that were compatible with all-weather capability for the United States Navy. In addition to that, Lockheed Martin has provided approximately 65,000 LGB kits and 125,000 Enhanced Laser Guided Training Rounds to the Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, Air Force and other international buyers.

The precision paveway II DMLGB weapons are only manufactured by Lockheed, which is the sole-source developer to the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 116,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2012 were $47.2 billion.

- Lockheed.com