Portsmouth Aviation Limited 1000lb HEIM Bomb

Portsmouth Aviation Limited recently revealed the development work being carried out to provide the UK MoD with an innovative design of 1000lb HE Aircraft Bomb that meets the requirements of Insensitive Munitions (IM) legislation and addresses the limitations of the current 1000lb Mk13 and Mk20 Bombs in service with the Royal Air Force.

With continuing operations abroad where bombs are routinely flown on Tornado and Harrier aircraft, the limited air carriage life and lack of IM compliance mean continued roullement of weapons back to the UK (or destruction of bombs in theatre) and a large logistics footprint required for the storage of weapons.

The new design is aimed at complementing existing UK 1000lb HE Bomb stocks and will provide significant advantages by way of:

• Compatibility with all current and emerging Fuzes – MFBF, FMU139, FMU143, FMU152, Advanced Bomb Fuze Etc.
• Greatly improved air carriage life – up to 5 times current limits
• Better operational performance – greater material strength and penetration
• Limited collateral damage – by means of customer specified explosive yield
• Full IM compliance – with the exception of sympathetic detonation
• Form, Fit and Function as per existing Mk20 Bomb
• Competitive price – comparable with existing stock prices

Using innovative design and technology it is possible to integrate this weapon on all existing and emerging UK platforms providing a long term medium bombing capability. Emerging Fuze and precision guidance technologies will provide further design enhancements and capabilities for the future.