ModernWeapons

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. 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. The Scalpel Plus version has a dual-mode SAL/GPS guidance system.
Scalpel can be fitted on F-16, F/A-18, AV-8B, and other domestic and international platforms. Combined with the Lockheed Martin Sniper Pod or other FLIR systems, Scalpel offers a high-value, low risk solution for special operations.