DefenseReview.com (DR): An online tactical technology and military defense technology magazine with particular focus on the latest and greatest tactical firearms news (tactical gun news), tactical gear news and tactical shooting news.
By David Crane
defrev (at) gmail (dot) com
All photos contained in this article were taken by DefenseReview.com, and are copyrighted. DefenseReview.com owns the copyright on these photos. The photos were shot with Canon PowerShot S90 10-megapixel digital camera (still camera with video capability).
August 13, 2010
Anyone who’s been reading DefenseReview (DR) for any length of time knows that we’re big fans of precision-guided 2.75-inch (2.75″) / 70mm Hydra-type rockets, whether they be laser-guided, millimeter wave (MMW) radar-guided, thermal/IR (Infrared)-guided, television-guided, or whatever.
So, imagine our delight upon seeing MBDA Missile Systems’ semi-active laser-guided Zuni air-to-ground rocket at NDIA SOFIC 2010 (Special Operations Forces Industry Conference 2010). The MBDA Zuni precision-guided rocket system would appear to be a reduced-cost “Maverick Jr.” or mini-Maverick missile (Raytheon AGM-65 Maverick)-type precision-attack missile solution for fast-moving fighter aircraft, just like the various precision-guided 2.75″ rockets are the lower-cost “HELLFIRE Jr.” or mini-HELLFIRE missile (Lockheed Martin AGM-114R multi-purpose HellFIRE II a.k.a. HELLFIRE Romeo missile)-type solution for slow-flying aircraft like helicopters (including attack helicopters) and ground combat vehicles. Another way to look at the Zuni system is as the air-to-ground big brother to the Northrop Grumman/ATK VENOM targeting Pod and 6-shot GATR-L laser-guided 2.75″/70mm rocket pod system, which can be deployed on ground vehicles and helicopters.
As far as we can tell, Defense Review is the first publication to show up-close and personal hi-res photos of the Zuni rocket and 4-shot LAU-10 rocket pod. We’re actually a little surprised by that.
The MBDA Zuni rocket system utilizes the WGU-58/B guidance and control system, which “can provide an immediate precision guided weapon capability to any aircraft capable of carrying the LAU-10 pod.” Pretty convenient. Assuming it works as advertised, the Zuni should prove to be a nice compliment to the AGM-65 Maverick missile against both moving and static hostile/enemy ground targets.
DR would like to note that we’re also big fans of MBDA Missile Systems in general, particularly the excellent and impressive METEOR Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM), which can significantly outperform any/all U.S. BVR air-to-air missiles, since the METEOR is a ramjet-powered missile, and the U.S. Air Force does not currently have an operational ramjet air-to-air missile in its inventory.
Additional Zuni Rocket System Photos:
Company Contact Info:
Doug Denneny, Vice President
Government Relations, Communications, & Small Weapons
MBDA Missile Systems / MBDA Incorporated
1300 Wilson Blvd., #550
Arlington, VA 22209
703-387-7136 Office
doug.denneny@mbda-us.com Email
http://www.mbdainc.com Website
© Copyright 2010 DefenseReview.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without receiving permission and providing proper credit and appropriate links.
The following are MBDA press releases on the Zuni semi-active laser-guided rocket system:
10/06/2009
by Jean DuPont
MBDA Incorporated Scores a Direct Hit in a Moving Target Demonstration of the Semi-Active Laser Guided Zuni Rocket
Westlake Village, California. MBDA Incorporated today announced the successful demonstration of a Semi-Active Laser Guided Zuni rocket against a moving target at the Navy’s test facilities at China Lake, CA. This firing comes after a successful shot against a static target in May of this year. The WGU-58/B Guidance and Control System developed in cooperation withthe Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD)provides the Zuni weapon precision accuracy.
Jim Pennock, Vice President of Guided Rocket Sector Business Development at MBDA Incorporated said “The WGU-58/B Guidance and Control system gives fixed wing aviators the ability to rapidly and accurately engage a moving target in close proximity to friendly forces. We are confident in the system’s ability to precisely engage moving targets and we demonstrated it today.”
The Zuni is fired from the LAU-10 launcher, which is a pod that is carried on a fighter aircraft’s weapon station. The pod is designed to carry and fire four Zuni rockets. This gives the aircraft an immediate increase in the number of targets that it can engage giving it more capability than comparable semi-active laser guided weapons which are limited to one or two per weapon station.
The high speed profile of the weapon will permit tactical aircraft using existing targeting pods to rapidly and accurately engage a target while staying outside the range of an enemy’s weapons. The WGU-58/B Guidance and Control system can provide an immediate precision guided weapon capability to any aircraft capable of carrying the LAU-10 pod.
MBDA’s industry team includes Elbit Systems of America, Fort Worth TX; General Dynamics, Healdsburg CA; and Honeywell, Minneapolis MN.
Notes to editors
With industrial facilities in the USA and four European countries,MBDA has an annual turnover of more than billion and an order book of more than billion. With more than 90 armed forces customers in the world, MBDA is a world leader in missiles and missile systems.
MBDA is the only group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems that correspond to the full range of current and future operational needs of the three armed forces (land, sea and air). In total, the group offers a range of 45 missile systems and countermeasures products already in operational service and more than 15 others currently in development.
Original Link: http://www.mbda-systems.com/mbda/site/ref/scripts/newsFO_complet.php?lang=EN&news_id=292
June 22, 2009
By Jean DuPont
MBDA Incorporated Successfully Demonstrates Guidance and Control of Semi-Active Laser Guided Zuni Rocket
Westlake Village, California. MBDA Incorporated today announced the successful demonstration of a Semi-Active Laser Guided Zuni rocket at the Navy’s test facilities at China Lake, CA. utilizing the WGU-58/B Guidance and Control System developed in cooperation with the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD).
Jim Pennock, Vice President of Guided Rocket Sector Business Development at MBDA Incorporated said “The WGU-58/B Guidance and Control system performed as predicted. We developed this capability in response to a U.S. Marine Corps need for a forward-firing, low-cost, semi-active laser guided weapon capable of accurately engaging fixed and moving targets in close proximity to friendly forces, while allowing firing aircraft to remain outside the threat envelope. Our successful team includes the NAWCWD, China Lake and our industry partners; Elbit Systems of America, Fort Worth TX; General Dynamics, Healdsburg CA; and Honeywell, Minneapolis MN.”
The design concept maximizes the use of off-the-shelf hardware and software, and does not require changes to the aircraft interface to employ the weapon, thereby permitting the rapid transition of the hardware into the inventory. The design allows the WGU-58/B guidance and control system to be easily attached to the existing Zuni rockets in the field.
The Zuni is fired from the LAU-10 launcher, which is a pod that is carried on a fighter aircraft’s weapon station. The pod is designed to carry and fire four Zuni rockets which gives the aircraft an immediate increase in the number of targets that it can engage over most of the other semi-active laser guided weapons of a comparable warhead effectiveness which are limited to one or two per weapon station.
The high speed profile of the weapon will permit tactical aircraft using existing targeting pods to rapidly and accurately engage a target while staying outside the range of an enemy’s weapons. The WGU-58/B Guidance and Control system can provide an immediate precision guided weapon capability to any aircraft capable of carrying the LAU-10 pod.
NOTES TO EDITORS
With industrial facilities in the USA and four European countries, MBDA has an annual turnover of more than $4 billion and an order book of more than $14 billion. With more than 90 armed forces customers in the world, MBDA is a world leader in missiles and missile systems.
MBDA is the only group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems that correspond to the full range of current and future operational needs of the three armed forces (land, sea and air). In total, the group offers a range of 45 missile systems and countermeasures products already in operational service and more than 15 others currently in development.
Original Link: http://www.mbdainc.com/news/20090622.php
Related Articles:
Elbit Systems and ATK Developing Laser-Guided Advanced Tactical Rocket (GATR-L)
APKWS II Precision-Guided Hydra Rockets: Here Comes ‘HELLFIRE Jr.’
Raytheon/EAI Laser-Guided 2.75-inch/70mm Hydra Rocket
Fury and CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS/UAVs Armed with Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM)
