SCALPEL

SCALPEL (Small Contained-Area Laser Precision Energetic Load) is a laser-guided bomb produced by Lockheed Martin. The weapon is being developed from the Enhanced Laser Guided Training Round (E-LGTR) which is the training version of the Paveway II series of bombs. The rationale behind the system is to provide a light, low-collateral damage weapon which can utilise the infrastructure and platform integration already in place for the E-LGTR system. On 14 March 2010, the US Navy announced its intention to purchase Scalpel.^[1] The Navy completed some integration work in 2011 and the weapon was still self-funded as of 2016, but Scalpel could be ready for operations in "a year or two" depending if a launch customer commits extra funding and test range support.^[2] The Scalpel Plus version has a dual-mode SAL/GPS guidance system.^[3]

Specifications

• Weight: 100 lbs (45.3 kg)
• Length: 75 in (1905 mm)
• Diameter: 4 in (102 mm)
• Guidance: Semi-active laser homing.

Program status

• May 2008 – Three inert weapons successfully carried and released by AV-8B Harriers.^[4]

See also

• List of laser articles