The SMKB (Smart-MK-Bomb) is a guidance kit that turns a standard
Mk 82 (500 lbs) and
Mk 83 (1.000 lbs) into a
Precision-guided weapon, respectively called SMKB-82 and SMKB-83. The kit provides extended range up to and are guided by an integrated
inertial guidance system
An inertial navigation system (INS; also inertial guidance system, inertial instrument) is a navigation device that uses motion sensors (accelerometers), rotation sensors ( gyroscopes) and a computer to continuously calculate by dead reckoning ...
coupled to three satellites networks, relying on wireless to handle the flow of data between the aircraft and the munition.
Development
In April 2009,
AEQ and
Mectron, defense division of
Odebrecht Organisation, displayed at LAAD 2009 the first mock-up of a Brazilian precision guided weapons kit. Development of the SMKB was officially started in November 2009, and included a partnership with the
Brazilian Air Force
The Brazilian Air Force (, FAB) is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Brazilian Brazilian Army Aviation (1919–1941), Army and Brazilian Naval Aviation, Nav ...
, through the "General Command of Aerospatial Technology" (Comando-Geral de Tecnologia Aeroespacial, CTA).
[
In the early stages of development, it was tested with GPS as the only ]satellite navigation
A satellite navigation or satnav system is a system that uses satellites to provide autonomous geopositioning. A satellite navigation system with global coverage is termed global navigation satellite system (GNSS). , four global systems are ope ...
network, however it is known that the U.S. (and other nations) have methods and devices to interfere with the satellite signal ( jamming), thereby degrading weapon accuracy. In order to improve the resilience against jamming, it was decided to create a guide system, capable of operating with three satellite navigation networks: GPS (United States), Galileo
Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de' Galilei (15 February 1564 – 8 January 1642), commonly referred to as Galileo Galilei ( , , ) or mononymously as Galileo, was an Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer, sometimes described as a poly ...
(European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...
) and GLONASS
GLONASS (, ; ) is a Russian satellite navigation system operating as part of a radionavigation-satellite service. It provides an alternative to Global Positioning System (GPS) and is the second navigational system in operation with global cove ...
(Russia
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
). The software coupled to the SMKB reads simultaneously and individually the three systems and assesses the positioning based on a verification algorithm, which provides greater reliability, because the data are crossed to allow correct positioning. In addition, the company has developed anti-jamming capability with encrypted software which provides complete system integrity, also enhanced by the use of a highly directive radiation pattern
In the field of antenna design the term radiation pattern (or antenna pattern or far-field pattern) refers to the ''directional'' (angular) dependence of the strength of the radio waves from the antenna or other source.Constantine A. Balanis: " ...
.[
Super Tucano aircraft were used during a 2 weeks long trials at which the first in-flight launch of the weapon took place in December 2010 at Natal Air Force Base.][ The SMKB-82 was cleared for use with the AMX, F-5, Kfir and Super Tucano by December 2012. Qualification test for SMKB-83 are scheduled to commence in 2013][
]
Variants
*SMKB-82 - Kit for Mk-82
*SMKB-83 - Kit for Mk-83
See also
* FPG-82
;Similar Weapons
* Joint Direct Attack Munition
* AASM AASM may refer to:
* American Academy of Sleep Medicine
* Anglo-American School of Moscow
* Armement Air-Sol Modulaire, a French munition
* Australian Active Service Medal
{{disambig ...
* Paveway IV
* HGK
* Spice
In the culinary arts, a spice is any seed, fruit, root, Bark (botany), bark, or other plant substance in a form primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of pl ...
* Umbani
* LT PGB
References
External links
Mectron: Smart WeaponsAEQ: SMKB-82 - Wireless Systems (official brochure)
{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017
Aerial bombs of Brazil
Guided missiles of Brazil
Guided bombs