Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser Extended Range (WCMD-ER)

Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser Extended Range (WCMD-ER) will increase the standoff range with GPS guidance maintaining current weapon effectiveness on both bombers and fighters. WCMD-ER significantly contributes to Air Force warfighting capability. This project extends range and improves accuracy of the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) by development of a wing kit and integration of a GPS equipped tail kit into the CBU-105 (anti-armor targets) and CBU-103 (soft and area targets) dispensers.

The Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser - Extended Range (WCMD-ER) pre-planned product improvement (P3I) effort adds a wing assembly and a WCMD GPS tail assembly to provide an accurate, standoff delivery capability for TMDs. The WCMD-ER P3I program was initiated in FY03 under PE 604600F. WCMD-ER will enable the Combat Air Forces to accurately deliver and employ Sensor Fuzed Weapons (SFWs) from a 35nm standoff range. WCMD-ER satisfies a Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDs) validated requirement for an area standoff capability.

Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser Extended Range (WCMD-ER) was intended to increase the standoff range with GPS guidance and a wing kit, maintaining current weapon effectiveness. The WCMD-ER development would support an initial capability on the F-16 and provide the AF's only standoff, anti-armor capability and clean battlefield area munitions.

The SPO office was responsible for developing two new weapons used for the first time in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the CBU-103, or Sensor Fuzed Weapon, and the CBU-105, or Combined Effects Munition. WCMD is a guidance tail kit that can be attached to both of the unpowered weapons to give greater accuracy when each is launched from high altitudes.

The addition of wings would give the direct attack weapons greater range and standoff capability. The direct attack CBU-103 and CBU-105 weapons were used with great success in Operation Iraqi Freedom. There were no accuracy problems with these weapons reported in Operation Iraqi Freedom, but the need for a standoff version exists. In OIF, the US achieved air superiority, and later air supremacy, really quickly. The US was't faced with a significant air defense problem. So the use of direct attack weapons such as the CBU-103 and CBU-105 was not an issue.

In the future, however, when faced with more extensive integrated air defense systems for an area attack weapon, standoff capability will show itself. It also gives much more mission flexibility from a point in the sky because an aircraft can put a weapon in a bigger basket (meaning weapons hit their intended target with more accuracy and less collateral damage). That gives combat aircrews more flexibility and survivability.

The WCMD-ER was not programmed for use on the CBU-107 or Passive Attack Weapon, which was used in OIF after a rapid response development effort by an Eglin team. There is no reason why the WCMD-ER cannot be used on the CBU-107. The CBU-107 just didn't exist when plans to develop the WCMD-ER were made.

As of 2002 the Air Force planned to purchase 7,500 WCMD-ER kits. In addition to the F-16 and B-52, the weapon was expected to be integrated on the F-15E and other aircraft. Deliveries of the WCMD-ERs to Air Combat Command would begin in late 2006 and be completed in 2012. Flight testing is scheduled to begin in 2005 on the F-16 and B-52.

Development of an extended range variant of the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD-ER) was initiated in FY03. The project extends the range and improves the accuracy of WCMD by adding a wing kit and integrating GPS into the tail kit for CBU-105 (anti-armor targets) and CBU-103 (soft and area targets) dispensers.

In early 2003 Lockheed Martin [LMT] sought to better position itself in the strike weapons marketplace with its acquisition of Carlsbad, California-based Leigh Aerosystems, which makes the LongShot GPS bomb wing adaptor kits that was to be incorporated in future Extended Range versions of the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD-ER).

A $41 million contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin to design and develop wings for the WCMD and add Global Positioning System to aid its Inertial Guidance System. The Area Attack Systems Program Office began work to give the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser extended range capability and greater accuracy.

Program managers for the WCMD-ER program did not obtain C4ISP J-6 approval before entering the SDD phase. The WCMD-ER entered SDD prior to issuance of the systems engineering policy. The WCMD-ER does not follow the formal milestone decision processes; therefore, a systems engineering plan submitted for MDA approval in conjunction with each milestone review as required by policy does not apply to the WCMD-ER. However, the WCMD Program Office developed a systems engineering management plan for the WCMD-ER, which meets the intent of the systems engineering policy.

In late 2003 the Air Force requested Pentagon approval to back out of its planned buys of the Raytheon-made Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) beginning in FY '05, a move which would send a blow to the shared Navy program, which is designed to deliver a variety of submunitions by gliding to a target from safe distances. Air Force officials instead favored the extended-range Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD-ER).

As of February 2004 it was planned that the first WCMD-ER units (with initial capability) wouldl begin production in FY05. The final production configuration (with full capability) was to begin production in FY06. WCMD-ER production was to continue through FY12. The planned procurement is for 7,500 WCMD-ER kits.

Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control, Orlando Fla., was awarded a $52,908,950 firm fixed price contract on May 5, 2005 to provide for 1,655 Production Phase Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) Tail Kits, (1,618 United State Government tail kits (with warranty), 15 United States Government tail kits (no warranty), 22 Foreign Military Sales tail kits), 100 Production Phase Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser Extended Range (WCMD-ER). This effort supports foreign military sales to Oman. The location of performance is Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control, Orlando Fla., (75 percent) and Lockheed Martin Ocala Operations, Ocala Fla. (25%). Total funds have been obligated. This work will be complete June 2007. Solicitations began June 2004 and negotiations were complete May 2005. The Air Armament Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8677-05-C-0025).

On 19 May 2005 Lockheed Martin was awarded $52.9 million in a firm-fixed-price contract to produce 1,655 Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) tail kits and 100 WCMD-Extended Range (ER) wing kits for the U.S. Air Force. The purchase of 100 WCMD-ER kits signaled the beginning of production for this system.

In a change from earlier plans, the Air Force decided in mid-2005 to install the standoff version of the Wind Corrected Munition Dispenser (WCMD) only on what the Pentagon has deemed a "safe warhead". The Extended Range of WCMD, known as WCMD-ER, will only be used on the Textron [TXT] Sensor-Fuzed Weapon (SFW). The Sensor Fuzed Weapon is a wide-area smart munition designed for use against moving and stationary vehicles. The SFW (CBU-97) is designated the CBU-105 when mated with the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD); it is designated the CBU-115 when mated with the WCMD-Extended Range (WCMD-ER).

Congress approved realignment of WCMD-ER 3600 FY06 funding to WCMD-ER 3011 production funding. In FY06 WCMD-ER received a $15.7 million Congressional add in the FY06 Appropriations Conference Report 109-359 (dated 18 December 2005).

Tom Mullins was named the 2005 Air Force Outstanding Civilian Program Manager for his accomplishments with the Area Attack Systems Group. Mr. Mullins led the charge for the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser - Extended Range. He handled production, development and aircraft integration of the weapon while also serving as the director of operations for the WCMD Systems Squadron. With Mr. Mullins at the helm the WCMD-ER underwent a system design development restructure plan. This change refocused the program's effort on fielding the weapon on the F-16 and by doing this, he freed up $15.7 million worth of funds for the program in 2006. He also pushed WCMD-ER into successful flight testing in 2005. The highly sought after weapon went through several ground mount tests and executed its first captive-carry mission without any major issues.

"Our WCMD Squadron has been through a challenging year - key personnel turnover, program budget cuts and a myriad of technical setbacks in our WCMD-ER development effort," said Lt. Col. Neil Robinson, WCMD Systems Squadron commander. "Tommy was instrumental in brainstorming options and implementing solution paths so we could navigate WCMD-ER through these challenges and keep the program moving forward."

The third drop test of the extended-range variant of Lockheed Martin's combat-proven WCMD on 10 March 2006 at Eglin AFB, FL experienced higher than anticipated flow fields off the aircraft following successful separation. The anomaly prevented the successful completion of the flight test of the company's Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser-Extended Range (WCMD-ER) system.

WCMD-ER was cancelled on August 9, 2006. In early 2005 Bush Administration proposed termination of the Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser-Extended Range. And the US Air Force signalled no interest in salvaging the Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser-Extended Range (WCMD-ER). In July 2005 the Department of Defense reported significant achievements since beginning to implement the President's Management Agenda (PMA). The Budget and Performance Integration Initiative (BPII) is ensuring that performance is routinely considered in funding and management decisions, and that programs achieve expected results and work toward continual improvement. For Investment programs, the Department examined program and funding execution and assessed cost, schedule, and performance data. Joint Common Missile (JCM) and Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser - Extended Range (WCMD-ER) were recommended for termination on the grounds that current programs and inventories can accomplish the mission.