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Mark 84
The Mark 84 or BLU-117 is an American general-purpose bomb. It is the largest of the Mark 80 series of weapons. Entering service during the Vietnam War, it became a commonly used US heavy unguided bomb (due to the amount of high-explosive content packed inside) to be dropped. At the time, it was the third largest bomb by weight in the US inventory behind the BLU-82 "Daisy Cutter" and the M118 "demolition" bomb. It is currently sixth in size due to the addition of the GBU-28 in 1991, the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb (MOAB) in 2003, and the Massive Ordnance Penetrator. Development The Mark 84 has a nominal weight of , but its actual weight varies depending on its fin, fuze options, and retardation configuration, from . It is a streamlined steel casing filled with of Tritonal high explosive. The Mark 84 is capable of forming a crater wide and deep. It can penetrate up to of metal or of concrete, depending on the height from which it is dropped, and caus ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation (GD) is an American publicly traded, aerospace and defense corporation headquartered in Reston, Virginia. As of 2020, it was the fifth-largest defense contractor in the world by arms sales, and 5th largest in the United States by total sales. The company is a Fortune 100 company, and was ranked No. 94 in 2022. Formed in 1954 with the merger of submarine manufacturer Electric Boat and aircraft manufacturer Canadair, the corporation today consists of ten subsidiary companies with operations in 45 countries. The company's products include Gulfstream business jets, Virginia- and Columbia-class nuclear-powered submarines, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, M1 Abrams tanks and Stryker armored fighting vehicles. In 2021, General Dynamics had worldwide sales of $38.85 billion and a workforce of approximately 103,000 full-time employees. The current chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) is Phebe Novakovic. History Electric Boat Ge ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
GBU-10 Paveway II
The GBU-10 Paveway II is an American Paveway-series laser-guided bomb, based on the Mk 84 general-purpose bomb, but with laser seeker and wings for guidance. Introduced into service c. 1976. Used by USAF, US Navy, US Marine Corps, Royal Australian Air Force and various NATO air forces. Description The GBU-10 has been built in more than a half-dozen variants with different wing and fuse combinations. Weight depends on the specific configuration, ranging from . GBU-10 bombs (along with the balance of the Paveway series) are produced by defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. Raytheon began production after purchasing the product line from Texas Instruments. Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract to compete with Raytheon when there was a break in production caused by transferring manufacturing out of Texas. Raytheon production of the Paveway II is centered in Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico. Lockheed Martin production is centered in Pennsylvania. Laser-guided bombs are ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
BLU-109 Bomb
The BLU-109/B is a hardened penetration bomb used by the United States Air Force (BLU is an acronym for Bomb Live Unit). As with other "bunker busters", it is intended to penetrate concrete shelters and other hardened structures before exploding. In addition to the US, it is part of the armament of the air forces of Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, Belgian Air Component, Belgium, Royal Canadian Air Force, Canada, Royal Danish Air Force, Denmark, French Air Force, France, German Air Force, Germany, Hellenic Air Force, Greece, Italian Air Force, Italy, Israeli Air Force, Israel, Royal Netherlands Air Force, Netherlands, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Norway, Pakistan Air Force , Pakistan, Royal Saudi Air Force, Saudi Arabia, Royal Air Force, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates Air Force, United Arab Emirates. Design The BLU-109/B has a steel casing about thick, filled with of Tritonal. It has a delayed-action tail-fuze. The BLU-109 entered service in 1985 in aviation, 1985 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cooking Off
Cooking off (or thermally induced firing) is unfired weapon ammunition exploding prematurely due to heat in the surrounding environment. The term is used both for detonation of ammunition not loaded into a weapon, and unintended firing of a loaded weapon due to heating. A fast cook-off is a cook-off caused by fire. A slow cook-off is caused by a sustained thermal event less intense than fire. A cooked-off round may cause a sympathetic detonation of adjacent rounds. Insensitive munitions are designed to be less vulnerable to accidental firing induced by external heat. Artillery Inherent design flaws in early 17th century Swedish leather cannons led to the gun tube overheating which prematurely ignited the gunpowder, injuring the loader. Muzzle-loading cannon on merchant and naval vessels of the Age of Sail would fire if the vessels caught fire while the guns were loaded. Examples include the merchantman and . After the cooking off of artillery shells in the G5 howitzer ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1967 USS Forrestal Fire
On 29 July 1967, a fire broke out on board the aircraft carrier after an electrical anomaly caused a Zuni rocket on an F-4B Phantom to fire, striking an external fuel tank of an A-4 Skyhawk. The flammable jet fuel spilled across the flight deck, ignited, and triggered a chain reaction of explosions that killed 134 sailors and injured 161. At the time, ''Forrestal'' was engaged in combat operations in the Gulf of Tonkin, during the Vietnam War. The ship survived, but with damage exceeding US$72 million, not including the damage to aircraft. Future United States Senator John McCain and future four-star admiral and U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Ronald J. Zlatoper were among the survivors. Another on-board officer, Lieutenant Tom Treanore, later returned to the ship as its commander and retired an admiral. The disaster prompted the Navy to revise its fire fighting practices. It also modified its weapon handling procedures and installed a deck wash down system on all carriers. The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Weapon System Safety
The United States Navy formed the Weapon System Explosives Safety Review Board (WSESRB) in 1968 as a result of the tragic fire Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material (the fuel) in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction Product (chemistry), products. At a certain point in the combustion reaction, called the ignition ... on the USS ''Forrestal'' (CV-59). The subsequent investigation recommended an independent review process be established. The report highlighted the need to ensure explosives safety requirements are met for all munitions introduced to the Fleet. As a result, the WSESRB was established. WSESRB participate in numerous weapons system safety-related meetings, technical reviews, and working groups. The US Air Force and US Army have parallel boards to the Navy's WSESRB: the AF Nonnuclear Munitions Safety Board (NNMSB) and the Army Weapon Systems Safety Review Board (AWSSRB) Areas reviewed by weapon boards incl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
TÜBİTAK Defense Industries Research And Development Institute
TÜBİTAK Defense Industries Research and Development Institute ( tr, TÜBİTAK Savunma Sanayii Araştırma ve Geliştirme Enstitüsü), shortly TÜBİTAK SAGE, is a Turkish institution carrying out research and development projects on defense industry technology. It was established in 1972 at Beşevler neighborhood in central Ankara under the name "Guided Vehicles Technology and Measurement Center" (Güdümlü Araçlar Teknoloji ve Ölçüm Merkezi, GATÖM) by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey ( tr, Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu, TÜBİTAK). In 1983, the institution was renamed to "Ballistics Research Institute" (Balistik Araştırma Enstitüsü, BAE), and finally in 1988 it took its current name. The organization conducts research and development activities to meet the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces and national defense industry. SAGE moved in 1993 to its new location in Lalahan village of Elmadağ district, northeast of Ankar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
HGK (bomb)
The HGK guidance kit (HGK, tr, Hassas Güdüm Kiti / Precision Guidance Kit), developed by TÜBİTAK-SAGE, is a GPS/INS guidance kit that converts bombs range from 227 kg (500 pounds) to 907 kg (2000-lb) Mark 80-series munitions into smart bombs. A CAMGÖZ (glass eye) laser seeker, resistant to countermeasures and with over 315 degrees of view angle, again developed by TÜBİTAK-SAGE, provides guidance. It enables precision strike capability in all weather conditions with long range (up to 24 km) at a dispersion of . The kit can be used with Mark 84, Mark 83 and Mark 82 bombs. In pop culture H-G-K is the name of a track on the Japanese hard rock band Band-Maid's album ''Unseen World ''Unseen World'' is the seventh studio album by the Japanese all-female rock band Band-Maid. It was released digitally on January 13, 2021, with physical formats released one week later. It is the band's first album for Pony Canyon. The cover is a ...'', which has been confirm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sea Mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to damage or destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, any vessel or a particular vessel type, akin to anti-infantry vs. anti-vehicle mines. Naval mines can be used offensively, to hamper enemy shipping movements or lock vessels into a harbour; or defensively, to protect friendly vessels and create "safe" zones. Mines allow the minelaying force commander to concentrate warships or defensive assets in mine-free areas giving the adversary three choices: undertake an expensive and time-consuming minesweeping effort, accept the casualties of challenging the minefield, or use the unmined waters where the greatest concentration of enemy firepower will be encountered. Although international law requires signatory nations to declare mined areas, precise locations remain secret; and non-complying individuals ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Joint Direct Attack Munition
The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a guidance kit that converts unguided bombs, or "dumb bombs", into all-weather precision-guided munitions. JDAM-equipped bombs are guided by an integrated inertial guidance system coupled to a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, giving them a published range of up to . JDAM-equipped bombs range from . The JDAM's guidance system was jointly developed by the United States Air Force and United States Navy, hence the "joint" in JDAM. When installed on a bomb, the JDAM kit is given a GBU (Guided Bomb Unit) identifier, superseding the Mark 80 or BLU (Bomb, Live Unit) nomenclature of the bomb to which it is attached. The JDAM is not a stand-alone weapon; rather it is a "bolt-on" guidance package that converts unguided gravity bombs into precision-guided munitions (PGMs). The key components of the system consist of a tail section with aerodynamic control surfaces, a (body) Strake (aeronautics), strake kit, and a combined inertial guidance s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
GBU-15
The Rockwell International Guided Bomb Unit 15 is an unpowered glide weapon used to destroy high-value enemy targets. It was designed for use with F-15E Strike Eagle, F-111 'Aardvark' and F-4 Phantom II aircraft. The GBU-15 has long-range maritime anti-ship capability with the B-52 Stratofortress.Caldwell, Hamlin A., Jr. "Air Force Maritime Missions" ''United States Naval Institute Proceedings'' October 1978 p.31 Overview The weapon consists of modular components that are attached to either a general purpose Mark 84 bomb or a penetrating-warhead BLU-109 bomb. Each weapon has five components—a forward guidance section, warhead adapter section, control module, airfoil components, and a weapon data link. The guidance section is attached to the nose of the weapon and contains either a television guidance system for daytime or an imaging infrared system for night or limited, adverse weather operations. A data link in the tail section sends guidance updates to the control aircraft tha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Laser-guided Bomb
A laser-guided bomb (LGB) is a guided bomb that uses semi-active laser guidance to strike a designated target with greater accuracy than an unguided bomb. First developed by the United States during the Vietnam War, laser-guided bombs quickly proved their value in precision strikes of difficult point targets. These weapons use on-board electronics to track targets that are designated by laser, typically in the infrared spectrum, and adjust their glide path to accurately strike the target. Since the weapon is tracking a light signature, not the object itself, the target must be illuminated from a separate source, either by ground forces, by a pod on the attacking aircraft, or by a separate support aircraft. Data from the 28,000 laser guided bombs dropped in Vietnam showed that laser-guided bombs achieved direct hits nearly 50% of the time, despite the laser having to be aimed out the side window of the back seat of another aircraft in flight. Unguided bombs had an accuracy rate o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
