12 February 2019

Thales conducts first laser-guided BAT-120LG shot

by Robin Hughes

Thales, in collaboration with the French Directorate General of Armaments (Direction Générale de l’Armement: DGA), has conducted the first guided targeting shot of its prototype 120mm BAT-120 LG unpowered, lightweight, laser-guided, air-to-surface munition.

The BAT-120LG munition was launched from a French Air Force Mirage 2000D multirole combat aircraft against a static representative ground target at the DGA missile test range in Biscarrosse, southwest France, at the beginning of December 2018, the company has disclosed. This follows the first guided release of an all-up BAT-120LG round in June 2018 from the same aircraft type, also at Biscarrosse. During that trial the prototype munition executed trajectory corrections in accordance with the test plan.

Thales declined to disclose specific detail of the targeting shot, including range or height. A company spokesperson told Jane’s , “The numbers are confidential, but it is interesting to note that the trial was a success despite poor weather conditions: high winds, poor visibility.”

A prototype BAT-120LG round being released from a French Air Force Mirage 2000D at Biscarrosse, southwest France, in June 2018. This was the first guided release of the developmental munition. (Thales/DGA)

Developed in collaboration with the DGA, the BAT-120LG round is evolved from the legacy Thomson Brandt Armements 120 mm Bombe d’Appui Tactique (BAT-120) tactical support bomb. The new munition is designed to engage lightly armoured or soft-skinned fixed or mobile targets, moving inshore maritime targets, or light structures from a fixed-wing platform at medium and high altitudes.

Thales, in collaboration with the French Directorate General of Armaments (Direction Générale de l’A...

Jane's Find unrivaled intelligence, consultancy and advertising solutions to the defence and national security sectors.