Four Collaborative Small Diameter Bombs, or CSDBs, hang from the wing of an F-16 Fighting Falcon from the Air Force Test Center’s 96th Test Wing at Eglin.
autoevolution 28 May 2021, 13:17 UTC ·
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Standard, pre-programmed weapons can only go so far during combat, because they can’t adapt their response if case of an unexpected move from the enemy. But networked, collaborative and autonomous (NCA) weapons can adjust their reaction in real time. This is why the Air Force launched the Golden Horde initiative, which became a Vanguard program in 2019, in order to demonstrate how effective networked weapons are, during missions.
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) announced that the final test demonstrations of Collaborative Small Diameter Bombs (CSDBs), within the Golden Horde program, were carried out at the beginning of this week, at the White Sands Missile Range, in New Mexico.
Six modified Boeing GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, dropped simultaneously from two Lockheed Martin F-16s, established communications with each other and a ground station, and after receiving new instructions mid-flight, autonomously swarmed and hit two targets.
By Jill Pickett, AEDC/PA / Published May 03, 2021
Collaborative Small Diameter Bombs (CSDBs) are launched from the wing of an F-16 fighter from the Air Force Test Center’s 96th Test Wing at Eglin AFB. Four of the bombs were dropped during the second flight demonstration of the Air Force Golden Horde Vanguard on February 19th. (Courtesy photo)
Four Collaborative Small Diameter Bombs (CSDBs) hang from the wing of an F-16 fighter from the Air Force Test Center’s 96th Test Wing at Eglin AFB. Two of the bombs were dropped during the first flight demonstration of the Air Force Golden Horde Vanguard. (Courtesy photo)