- BOLT-117
The
Texas Instruments BOLT-117 (BOmb, Laser Terminal-117), also known as the GBU-1/B [ [http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app5/paveway-1.html Texas Instruments Paveway I & Pave Storm - Designation Systems] ] was the world's firstlaser guided bomb (LGB). It consisted of a standard M117 750-pound bomb case with a KMU-342 laser guidance and control kit. It was commissioned by theUnited States Air Force in1967 and successfully completed a combat evaluation in1968 . Only a limited number of BOLT-117 bombs were produced before it was discontinued in favour of a more powerful LGB, the 2,000-poundGBU-10 . The larger bomb had proven twice as accurate and had far more explosive power.The impact of the BOLT-117 on airpower was revolutionary. Laser guidance kits turned standard "dumb" ordnance into "smart bombs," yielding a 100-fold increase in effectiveness compared with free-falling, unguided bombs.
References
ee also
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Precision-guided munition External links
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/bolt-117.htm BOLT-117 (BOmb, Laser Terminal-117) - Global Security]
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