$50M to Lockheed for GBU-12 Bomb Kits
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Lockheed Martin’s Shingo Prize winning Archbald, PA facility has received a contract valued at approximately $50 million to deliver GBU-12 laser-guided bomb (LGB) kits to the U.S. Air Force next year. The contract represents more than half of the U.S. Air Force’s requirements for the current fiscal year.
The GBU-12 converts standard Mk 80 family free-fall bombs into “Paveway II” precision-guided munitions. Each guidance kit consists of a computer control group (CCG) guidance system that screws into the front-end of the bomb, plus an air foil group (AFG) for the back end that provides lift and stability. The CCG uses a semi-active laser seeker and pneumatically-controlled guidance canards, plus the AFG fins, to direct the bomb onto the target.
GBU-12 kits are used on 500-pound bombs, while GBU-16 kits are used on 1,000-pound bombs, and GBU-10 kits fit 2,000 lb. bombs. The Paveways can be upgraded from laser-terminal guidance to dual-mode guidance by adding an all-weather global positioning system and inertial navigation system (GPS/INS) capability providing an affordable alternative to single guidance-mode weapons. These weapons are known as “Enhanced Paveway” weapons, and both Paveway II and Paveway III kits can be upgraded in this way. As a qualified supplier of laser-guided bombs, Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 25,000 kits of all kinds since the first Paveway versions made their debut during the Vietnam war.
Lockheed Martin’s 350,000-square-foot facility in Archbald, PA was awarded the 2005 Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing last March. Referred to by BusinessWeek magazine as the “Nobel prize of manufacturing”, the Shingo Prize is awarded annually to companies that demonstrate world-class business results through the implementation of Lean Manufacturing principles and practices. The competition is administered by The College of Business at Utah State University, in cooperation with several nonprofit and corporate organizations. The Archbald facility was also nominated one of 25 finalists of North America’s Best Plant competition in the July issue of Industry Week magazine. Corporate release.
