Precision Lethality Responds to Urgent Operational Need

  • Published
  • By Ms. Shelley Bloomfield, AFRL/RWOB
  • Munitions
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Florida --  Precision Lethality MK82 is a Quick Reaction Capability acquisition program to field a 500-lb composite case warhead (BLU-129) capability in response to a United States Central Command Joint Urgent Operational Need for a very low collateral damage weapon. The Air Force Research Laboratory teamed with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to design the PL82 composite warhead case which disintegrates during the explosion and minimizes fragmentation, thus decreasing damage and injury to nearby structures and personnel, including friendly forces and civilians.

Physical properties of the warhead are customized to closely match the Mk82, an existing 500-pound General Purpose Bomb. The case has the same outer shape and interfaces as the Mk82, which maintains compatibility with existing fuzes and precision guidance kits and provides ready application to a broad range of military aircraft. AFRL simultaneously developed a heavy explosive formulation to increase the weight of the warhead, because the composite case is lighter than the steel-cased Mk82.

This explosive also provides increased blast effects for improved near-field lethality performance. The BLU 129/B QRC program worked closely with AFRL and LLNL to prioritize requirements and maximize PL82 Risk Reduction testing for relevance to the final munitions development and to reduce schedule risks. This effort is a showcase for close cooperation between the munitions research, development, and production communities to rapidly provide a valuable munitions capability for the warfighter.