NDLI: B-1B virtual umbilical demonstration (BVUD)-a low-cost GPS guided weapon system

Content Provider	IEEE Xplore Digital Library
Author	Kinstler, G. Nielson, J. Jacobson, E. Crist, T.
Copyright Year	1998
Description	Author affiliation: Inf., Space & Defense Syst., Boeing, USA (Kinstler, G.)
Abstract	Historically, a persistent problem for bomber aircraft has been the accurate delivery of munitions. Targets not initially destroyed require additional passes, at increased risk to both crew and aircraft. For some time, the US Air Force has recognized the need for "smart" tailkits to covert conventional bombs to precision guided munitions (PGM). A little over four years ago, Rockwell International's North American Aircraft Division (now Boeing) began pursuing an inter-divisional effort now called the B-1B Virtual Umbilical Demonstration (BVUD). This effort encompassed the development and demonstration of a GPS guided tailkit that requires no hardware link to the host B-1B bomber for MK-82500 lb. Bombs. All initialization, timing and control data is transmitted to the tailkit over an infrared (IR) link. In addition, the B-1B bomb-bay is modified to re-radiate the GPS L-band signal acquired from an antenna on top of the aircraft. This L-band link as well as the IR data link to each weapon constitutes the "virtual umbilical" since the link is via radio and light waves. The BVUD tailkit was developed and eighteen flight units were built in approximately one year. Testing was completed at Edwards Air Force Base with live drops over the NAWC China Lake bombing range. BVUD has been effectively demonstrated during both captive and live weapon drops. This project is innovative because, to the knowledge of the authors, it represents the first time a virtual umbilical has been used to control a weapon system. The command and control of weapons over an IR link minimizes the need for expensive aircraft modifications to interface with new weapons. The re-broadcast of GPS data within the aircraft bomb bay allows a weapon to track satellites (on P/Y-code), prior to launch. This creates many opportunities for the use of GPS by weapons that could not effectively use GPS because of satellite obstruction during captive carriage or short flight times.
Starting Page	395
Ending Page	402
File Size	766944
Page Count	8
File Format	PDF
ISBN	0780343301
DOI	10.1109/PLANS.1998.670188
Language	English
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Publisher Date	1996-04-20
Publisher Place	USA
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Rights Holder	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Subject Keyword	Global Positioning System Weapons Military aircraft L-band Satellite broadcasting Hardware Timing Testing Lakes Control systems
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in