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Ehh, GPS has to be able to hit through an air shaft for that to happen, but they're gettin' pretty close.

<i>Darpa Demos JDAM Against Moving Target

(Source: DARPA; issued Oct. 23, 2003)

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Affordable Moving Surface Target Engagement (AMSTE) program has demonstrated for the eighth consecutive time the ability to precisely engage moving surface targets using precision-guided weapons. The weapon used this time was a modified live Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM).

On October 7, the AMSTE team successfully demonstrated the ability to track a moving target from long range and to use this tracking information to continuously direct a JDAM weapon in flight to attack that target. The recent experiment tested the ability of an integrated system to track targets in more realistic target scenarios using feature-aided tracking tools to support long-term track maintenance of high-value targets.

Eighteen different military target vehicles were maneuvered through a complex, three-hour scenario to test the improved tracking capability of the AMSTE system. Preliminary results included an operator-assisted track of a nominated target for longer than 40 minutes.

The flight test was conducted at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. In the demonstration, realtime information on a moving target was developed from standoff radar sensors, and the resulting tracking data was relayed from a Joint STARS aircraft directly to the modified JDAM in flight. The JDAM used in the test was a standard 2,000-pound version of the bomb with a JDAM tail kit modified to include a low-cost data link.

The JDAM was released from an F-16 fighter at an altitude of 20,000 feet and was directed to a specific target, a remotely controlled M-60 tank, moving in a column of traffic crossing the range at 18 miles per hour. The modified JDAM corrected its aim point continuously in flight and scored a direct hit on the moving tank. JDAMs were used effectively against fixed targets in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The technique demonstrated in this test will permit inventory weapons like the JDAM to be employed in a new role to precisely engage moving surface threats.

DARPA’s AMSTE program has developed a network-centric targeting approach that couples stand-off airborne radar sensors and low-cost weapons in a real-time engagement network. Under the AMSTE approach, data from multiple, airborne, ground moving target indicator (GMTI) radar sensors are fused to provide weapons with real-time target position updates while in flight. AMSTE provides a new strike capability to engage moving surface threats from stand-off ranges, in all weathers, using affordable precision-guided munitions.
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Edited by - tritonal on Oct 29 2003 10:43 PM

eventually yeah, but I think right now it would require an upgrade to any platform wanting to do the updating, maybee this is easy and cheap with this system I dunno. But in hilly terrain JSTARS and such wont be able to do it for the host aircraft, so LASERs will likely be around for quite a while. JSF and F-22 will probly have it built in.

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<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
eventually yeah, but I think right now it would require an upgrade to any platform wanting to do the updating, maybee this is easy and cheap with this system I dunno. But in hilly terrain JSTARS and such wont be able to do it for the host aircraft, so LASERs will likely be around for quite a while. JSF and F-22 will probly have it built in.

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us". George Orwell

Fighting For Justice With Brains Of Steel !
<img src="http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/atengun2X.GIF" border=0>
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

No....it is only software...the Planes with (MIDS) are ready for it. It is the software that shares it amongst the hardware.

"The power to Destroy the planet, is insignifigant to the power of the Air Force----Mudd Vader

ok but how is the data exchange handled, the host makes the calcs for updating the guidance but how do they get it to the JDAM, just with normal comms link or what? the update system for Sparrow and AMRAAM?

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us". George Orwell

Fighting For Justice With Brains Of Steel !
<img src="http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/atengun2X.GIF" border=0>

_________________
The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

Probably the JTIDS Link-16.

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