Lockheed Martin’s John Pericci, head of business development at the company’s missiles and fire control division, told reporters Wednesday covering the Air Force Association’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla., that he is trying to interest the Air Force in an Enhanced Laser Guided Training Round, already used by the Navy to increase aircrew access to training ranges that can’t handle full laser guided bombs. The E-LGTR costs about 15 percent of a standard LGB and hits within three meters of specifications, said Pericci. Lockheed is also developing—due out in late 2007—a weaponized version of the bomb called SCALPEL (Small Contained Area Laser Precision Energetic Load). Unlike the standoff Small Diameter Bomb, SCALPEL is a close range dual mode LGB that features a lighter warhead and improved accuracy for close air support missions and could be carried on a range of platforms, to include Predator and Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles. Robert Balserak, senior manager, business development, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, told reporters that using SCAPEL, “All I need is a laser beam to take the guy out of the window without leveling the building.”
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.