Lockheed Martin Dual Mode Laser Guided Bomb Achieves Objectives In Marine Corps Training Exercises

Lockheed Martin's LMT Dual Mode Laser Guided Bomb (DMLGB) was successfully employed during recent U.S. Marine Corps weapons and tactics instructor training. During the training exercises at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona, AV-8B Harrier aircrews released 19 GBU-12F/B DMLGB weapons. The weapons were released in tactically representative engagements, and used various targeting modes against fixed targets. All weapons performed successfully and met Marine Corps mission objectives. "We partnered with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to support day and night exercises that employed our enhanced DMLGB," said Joe Serra, precision guided systems manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "DMLGB's expanded launch area provides greater mission flexibility and standoff range compared to other dual-mode direct-attack weapons." Lockheed Martin's DMLGB adds GPS/Inertial Navigation System (INS) guidance to standard laser-guided bomb weapons, allowing the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to execute precision-strike missions against stationary and relocatable targets in all weather conditions. The DMLGBs can operate in laser mode only, GPS/INS mode only or dual mode to provide pilots with the flexibility to engage various target types in a single mission. In 2013, Lockheed Martin upgraded the DMLGB's block II operational flight program software, improving overall weapon performance and effectiveness in all release modes. As the sole-source developer and provider of the DMLGB kits, Lockheed Martin upgraded more than 7,000 Paveway™ II LGB guidance kits with dual mode, all-weather capability. Additionally, the company has delivered more than 70,000 LGB kits and over 135,000 Enhanced Laser Guided Training Rounds to the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and 20 international customers. By leveraging its combat-proven Paveway II Plus LGB performance and cost-effective dual-mode weapons expertise, Lockheed Martin is able to provide affordable and precise current and future dual-mode weapons to U.S. and international customers. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 113,000 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 2013 were $45.4 billion.