Wing Deployment Actuator

Glide bombs are a critical element of modern warfare, offering many advantages over guided missiles or unguided bombs. For example, glide bombs deploy wings to achieve a significantly extended range; this can triple the distance covered by air-launched weapons without requiring aircraft to fly over the target area. The overall system cost is also typically significantly less than that of a guided missile, and the option of ground-launching glide bombs further expands the use of this long-range defense solution.

A global defense systems manufacturer approached Portescap to support the development of the wing deployment actuator of its glide bombs. The application required a rugged motor that could not only perform at high elevations and in low temperatures, but could operate reliably in critical combat environments. Portescap identified the 35NT brush DC motor as an ideal motion solution for the actuator due to its cost efficiency, reduced compliance complexity, and reliability from an established product platform. As a COTS (Commercial Off-the-Shelf) solution, this 35mm motor was also able to be easily modified to match the specific application requirements.

The 35NT delivered the reliable and robust performance required to achieve the technical and commercial requirements of the customer. By utilizing a slightly modified COTS motion solution, the overall cost of the system remained low and the time to market was greatly reduced. Since 2005, over 20,000 glide bomb units featuring this wing deployment actuator have been produced, with 10,000 used in combat as of 2023.

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