I've seen a number of posts worrying about the effect of GPS jamming on the US GPS guided weapons like JDAM, but little said about the new DAMASK seeker. The DAMASK seeker, which apparently started initial production in 2007 (slated thru 2011), provides the JDAM with an imaging matching terminal guidance capability. This image may be uploaded in advance of or during the mission. It starts course correction from as far away as 2000ft. Articles I've read suggest this seeker may replace laser seekers.
Take a picture (visual or IR?), point at the target, release and run - no holding a laser on target until weapon detonation. As the JDAM already has inertial guidance that can take it near the target without GPS, the GPS system almost seems redundant at this point. GPS jamming is irrelevant. You even get a CEP that is improved over GPS. Not that it will replace GPS - will generally work with it - but DAMASK certainly is another incredible arrow in the quiver. I'm surprised there isn't more discussion of it. |