MBDA Inc. today announced the successful demonstration of a Semi-Active Laser Guided Zuni rocket against a moving target at the Navy’s test facilities at China Lake, CA.  This firing comes after a successful shot against a static target in May of this year.  The WGU-58/B Guidance and Control System developed in cooperation with the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) provides the Zuni weapon precision accuracy.

The Zuni is fired from the LAU-10 launcher, which is a pod that is carried on a fighter aircraft’s weapon station.  The pod is designed to carry and fire four Zuni rockets.  This gives the aircraft an immediate increase in the number of targets that it can engage giving it more capability than comparable semi-active laser guided weapons which are limited to one or two per weapon station.

The high speed profile of the weapon will permit tactical aircraft using existing targeting pods to rapidly and accurately engage a target while staying outside the range of an enemy’s weapons.  The WGU-58/B Guidance and Control system can provide an immediate precision guided weapon capability to any aircraft capable of carrying the LAU-10 pod.

MBDA’s industry team includes Elbit Systems of America, Fort Worth TX; General Dynamics, Healdsburg CA; and Honeywell, Minneapolis MN.