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Dallas TX: Lockheed Martin successfully conducted a guided test flight of its Compact Kinetic Energy Missile (CKEM) against a Main Battle Tank recently at Eglin Air Force Base, FL. All objectives for this test were achieved. In addition to demonstrating CKEM's capability against an armored target, the test also gathered missile performance and lethality data. This flight was the last of three guided flight tests for this year.
The key advantages of the CKEM system are its deployability and tremendous overmatch in lethality, which defeats all projected future armored combat vehicles. The CKEM Weapon System also provides increased countermeasure effectiveness and survivability while allowing the soldier to engage the toughest and most sophisticated armored targets.
“This test demonstrated the efficacy of CKEM against a difficult target – an up-armored tank – at long range,” said Loretta Painter, CKEM Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) program manager at the U.S. Army Research and Development Command (RDECOM), Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC), Redstone Arsenal, AL. “This test collected target effects data to characterize the lethality of CKEM and validates what CKEM could provide the Warfighter.”
“Another successful CKEM test bodes well for our soldiers because it means we are well positioned in being able to develop this tremendously lethal, hit-to-kill technology,” said Rick Edwards, vice president – Tactical Missiles for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “We have a long history of successfully designing, developing and producing hit-to-kill missile systems. CKEM will expand the battlespace, provide increased mutual support and defeat all known threat countermeasures.”
The remaining flight test planned for this year is designed to demonstrate CKEM's ability to fill current lethality gaps against enhanced reactive armor. 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 overmatch at both close and extended ranges.
CKEM is the next generation kinetic-energy anti-tank 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 overwhelming lethality overmatch against all potential target sets.
Lockheed Martin received a $78 million contract in 2003 for CKEM's ATD phase. Successful completion of sled tests and ATD work will ensure the missile is ready to enter the SDD phase of development. Work on the contract will be performed at the company's facilities in Dallas and El Paso, TX, and Camden, AR.
