VMA-214 Makes Aviation Munitions History Aboard Peleliu

MILTECH

For the time in history, An AV-8B Harrier launches off of the flight deck of an amphibious ship carrying Joint Direct Attack Munitions during training exercises aboard the USS Peleliu, off the coast of Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 11. Photo by: Cpl. Ruben D. Calderon.

Aboard The USS Peleliu (SPX) Nov 11, 2005
It was not the first time that an AV-8B Harrier launched off of the flight deck of an amphibious ship but, it was the first time that Fleet Harriers did it carrying Joint Direct Attack Munitions.

JDAMs are special bombs that use global positioning and satellite technology to guide the bomb toward its target, according to Maj. John Rahe, AV-8B Harrier detachment officer-in-charge, Marine Attack Squadron 214 "Black Sheep," Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. This technology allows the bombs to hit their target regardless of weather conditions or light levels, said Rahe.

In August, the Black Sheep also made history by becoming the first fleet squadron to drop the JDAMs from a Harrier after the aircraft was modified with a new avionics suite.

Rahe and a small detachment of Black Sheep are attached to Marine Medium Helicopter 166 (Reinforced), MCAS Miramar San Diego, which is a part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Camp Pendleton, Calif. They have been conducting training exercises aboard the U.S.S. Peleliu along with MEU Service Support Group 11, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment and the 11th MEU Command Element in preparation for their upcoming deployment this winter.

According to Rahe, the Marines have been training with the new system, but this is the first time ever that JDAM's have been deployed off of an amphibious assault ship.

According to Aviation Ordnance Petty Officer 3rd Class Erik Owens from Dothan, Ala., the pilots were not the only ones making history. This was the first time aviation ordnance sailors had ever built the bombs on board an amphibious ship.

The JDAMs are a great addition to the 11th MEU's amphibious arsenal, said Rahe. Capt. Mike Slatt, Harrier pilot and safety officer for the detachment, agreed with Rahe and added that another benefit to the new capability is the safety that it will afford pilots. According to Slatt, pilots can drop the bombs, leave the area and let the technology do the rest. This will greatly reduce the possibility of aircraft getting shot down by enemy fire, and will minimize collateral damage on the ground, he said.

"We employed three 1000 pound JDAMs from the Peleliu and all three tracked to the target perfectly," said Slatt. "So far we are hitting targets with pin point accuracy," said Capt. Derek Bibby, Harrier pilot and quality assurance officer for the detachment. "The bombs are going to hit anywhere we tell them to."

MILTECH

EADS To Supply Digital Map Generators For Eurofighter And Tornado

Friedrichshafen, Germany (SPX) Nov 11, 2005
EADS is to equip the Eurofighter combat aircraft of Germany, Great Britain, Spain, Italy and Austria as well as the Tornado combat aircraft of the German Armed Forces with a total of 364 Digital Map Generator systems (DMG).

SUPERPOWERS Hu Says Stronger China Means Peace, Stability Walker's World: Navy's China Diplomacy US Needs Strong Military Presence In Asia: Study Analysis: US - Libya Now Friends	NUKEWARS Iranian Atom Chief Vows To Continue, Woos Investment US Rejects North Korea's Disarmament Idea Three-Point Plan Put Forward To Resolve North Korean Nuclear Dispute Iran Warns Of 'Consequences' Over Nuclear Issue
MISSILE NEWS BAE Systems Counter-MANPADS JETEYE System Takes Flight On Commercial Airliner Raytheon Successfully Demonstrates Multi-Weapon Netted Battlefield Preliminary Design Review For NLOS-LS Precision Attack Missile Completed Russians Steal German Technology For Iranian, Syrian Missiles: Report	MISSILE DEFENSE BMD Focus: New Near Space Vision BMD Watch: Nuke SCUD Threat To U.S. BMD Focus: Teaching The Right Stuff SAIC chases NATO BMD contract
AEROSPACE NASA Flying Wing Model Soars In Historic Wind Tunnel Boeing 777-200LR Sets New World Record For Distance Boeing Projects $770bn Market For New Airplanes In Asia-Pacific EADS Considers Aircraft Assembly Line In China: Report	UAV NEWS Dragon Eye Protects Troops, Improves Recon Northrop Grumman Awarded Contract to Produce RQ-4B Global Hawks Singapore Looking To Buy Unmanned Surveillance Aircraft Global Hawk Tests Ability To Detect Airborne Targets Story
IRAQ WARS U.S. 'Can't Maintain Iraq Troop Levels' 180 Detained In US-Iraqi Sweep Near Syrian Border Iraq Deaths Slow Down, But Wounded Rate Up "Huge Progress" Made In Training Iraq Troops : US General	MILTECH EADS To Supply Digital Map Generators For Eurofighter And Tornado VMA-214 Makes Aviation Munitions History Aboard Peleliu EADS To Supply Digital Map Generators For Eurofighter And Tornado Boeing Small Diameter Bomb Enters Operational Testing

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement