Friday, January 09, 2009

Whizzard

Opher

Origin
Israel

Contractor/s
Elbit Systems

Family Members
GAL
Lizard

Description: The Whizzard is a family of modular guidance kits that convert dumb/general purpose bombs into precision guided weapons. Whizzard is available using three guidance modes: laser seeker (LIZARD), Infrared seeker (OPHER) and laser/Global Positioning System (GPS) aided seeker (GAL). The Whizzard family bombs can take out a wide range of targets such as armored vehicles, ships, power plants, infrastructures and radars.

The Whizzard bombs are fully compatible with NATO standard equipment and NATO laser designation codes, provide enhanced hit accuracy, and are suitable for day and night operations. The Israel Air Force is the larger operator of this kind of smart bombs and the entire family of munitions was developed to meet its requirements. Nevertheless, the weapon has been exported to foreign countries such as Italy.

The Opher uses an infrared seeker that enables autonomous target designation after and before launch. This principle is also referred to as launch and forget because the weapon guides to its target using only its infrared homing head. Thanks to the IR technology, the Opher bomb can operate even in adverse weather. In addition, a single aircraft can release various Opher bombs simultaneously against separated targets. The Opher bomb converts into Lizar by switching the seeker. The Opher is only suitable against targets with high heat signature such as armored vehicles and ships.

Operators

Israel

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, December 20, 2008

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