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Dallas TX: The U.S. Army and Lockheed Martin has conducted a successful flight test of the Compact Kinetic Energy Missile (CKEM) against a T-72 tank recently at Eglin Air Force Base, FL. All objectives for this test were achieved. The T-72, equipped with Enhanced Reactive Armor, was engaged at a range of 3400 meters. The flight evaluated CKEM's lethality while also gathering missile guidance and performance data.
This was the last scheduled launch under the current CKEM Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD), and was conducted with the Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center.
Two key advantages of CKEM are its deployability and tremendous overmatch in lethality. The CKEM Weapon System provides increased countermeasure effectiveness and survivability while allowing the soldier to engage the toughest and most sophisticated targets.
CKEM's ATD demonstrated a path forward for a smaller, lighter KE missile that can be integrated on to both current and future combat platforms and has the ability to fill current lethality gaps against enhanced reactive armor and active protective systems. CKEM will be particularly effective in bridging the Army's capability gaps identified for the Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the Stryker Brigade Combat Team by ensuring lethality at both close and extended ranges.
“There is nothing as incredibly powerful as CKEM when it comes to Line-of-Sight engagements,” said Rick Edwards, vice president – Tactical Missiles for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “CKEM's proven hit-to-kill technology is the only successful system which will fill FCS lethality gaps for close and extended engagements.”
Lockheed Martin received a $78 million contract in 2003 for CKEM's ATD phase. CKEM is the next generation kinetic-energy missile. It is less than 60 inches long and weighs less than 100 pounds, yet has an extended range for direct fire, line-of-sight engagements and provides the Infantry Brigade Combat Teams, Stryker Brigades and Future Combat System platforms needed lethality overmatch against all potential target sets.
