Wind Corrected Munition Dispenser
(WCMD)
While low altitude, high speed laydown deliveries
are consistent with tactics used against heavily defended target sets such
as the robust Soviet/Warsaw Pact threat envisioned in Central Europe, low
altitude tactics were not the preferred option during Desert Storm where
the USAF used medium/high altitude weapons employment to provide fighter
and bomber aircraft a sanctuary against short range surface to air missiles
and anti-aircraft artillery fire.
The Wind Compensated Munitions Dispenser [WCMD
"Wick-Mid"] is intende to remedy this current shortfall in Tactical Munition
Dispenser munitions, such as the CBU-87 CEM [Combined Effects Munition],
CBU-89 GATOR and CBU-97 SFW [Sensor Fuzed Weapon]. The WCMD program develops
a tail kit for these inventory dispenser weapons. These weapons will be
capable of delivery from medium to high altitude delivery when equipped
with a WCMD kit. The WCMD weapon will correct for wind effects and errors
during the weapon's ballistic fall. The WCMD kit will turn these "dumb"
bombs into accurate "smart" weapons. WCMD-equipped weapons are planned
for employment on the B-1, B-52, F-15E, F-16, and F-117 aircraft. The Air
Force plans to modify 40,000 tactical munitions dispensers.
The Air Force announced 27 January 1997 that Lockheed
Martin had won the $21 million contract to complete development and begin
production of the Wind-Corrected Munition Dispenser.
