Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD)
TypeBomb guidance kit
Place of originUnited States of America
Service history
Used bySee Users
Production history
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Guidance
system
Inertial guidance/GPS

The Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser or WCMD system is a US tail kit produced by Lockheed Martin for use with the Tactical Munitions Dispenser family of cluster bombs to convert them to precision-guided munitions. In 1997 the United States Air Force issued contracts to complete development and begin production of the WCMD, planning to modify 40,000 tactical munitions dispensers - 30,000 for CEM and 5,000 each for Gator and SFW - at a cost of US$8,937 per unit.[1]

When fitted with the WCMD the CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition, GBU-89 GATOR and the CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon are respectively known as the CBU-103, CBU-104 and the CBU-105; the latter anti-armor weapon was deployed but not used during Operation Allied Force in the Kosovo War, and fired in combat during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Variants

WCMD

  • Guidance: INS updated with GPS data from launch platform before release.[2]
  • Range: 16–20 km (9.9–12.4 mi).
  • Accuracy: 26 m (85 ft) CEP.

WCMD-ER

  • Guidance: INS combined with integral GPS.
  • Range: Wing kit extends range to 40–65 km (30–40 miles).
  • Accuracy: 26 m (85 ft) CEP.

The WCMD-ER program was cancelled in August 2006 due to poor test results and budgetary pressures.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Pike, John. "Wind Corrected Munition Dispenser (WCMD) - Smart Weapons". www.globalsecurity.org.
  2. ↑ "Lockheed Martin WCMD (Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser) - Designation Systems".
  3. ↑ "USAF terminates WCMD-ER contract".
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