AGM / GBU Question

[vrv]

Which series / model of AGM's or GBU's have a camera in the seeker? Sometimes in footage the video feed stays after it's pickled. It's not the most economic idea of all time and I doubt it's still in use but I've been wondering which munitions had this capability. I'm guessing legacy Mavs and Paveway's.

Edited November 10, 2010 by vrv

[kylania]

Another thread about this topic mentioned the AGM-62 Walleye as being one. As the predecessor to the AGM-65 Maverick it's not used on the A-10C.

[Brit_Radar_Dude]

As well as AGM-62 (later versions of which did indeed have a TV datalink), the GBU-15 is TV guided. GBU-15 can be locked onto a target and be fire and forget. But there is a live TV picture data link back to the aircraft so it can hand flown all the way to the target if you want. Or you can launch it, hand fly it for a while and then lock/unlock onto whatever target you want.

AGM-130 is a version of the GBU-15 but with a rocket motor strapped on for longer range. Same guidance.

 

My understanding is that there were some TV guided versions of the original Paveway I series called HOBOS. But they didn't have a data link, they were "Maverick style" lock on, then fire (actually drop) and forget. A few hundred were used in 'Nam. Apparently they were rather expensive and actually not that great, the technology wasn't developed enough and the laser Paveways were better and cheaper.

 

I don't think any Mavs have ever had a TV datalink back to the aircraft. Once you fire a Mav, you lose the TV picture.