Lockheed Martin, DALLAS, TX: Lockheed Martin, part of the NetFires LLC with Raytheon Company, recently performed four successful tests of the Non-Line-of-Sight – Launch System (NLOS-LS) Loitering Attack Missile (LAM) Multiple Explosively Formed Penetrator (MEFP) warhead.
The tests took place at the National Technical Systems (NTS) facility in Camden, AR, and confirmed the performance of the penetrator. All of the objectives in the four tests were achieved. The data from each test will be used in compiling additional Army lethality simulations, which have already shown the LAM warhead to be lethal against the desired target set.
The Aerojet designed and built warhead was integrated onto the LAM to optimize the lethality and functionality of the system, all while minimizing collateral damage. The MEFP warhead allows the LAM to achieve a good balance of two key performance parameters, loiter time and lethality, by optimizing fuel load with warhead size. Eight more performance and insensitive munitions (IM) screening tests are scheduled for the fall of this year.
“These test successes overwhelmingly support LAM's warhead readiness and maturity,” said Steve Altman, Business Development director – NetFires LLC. “MEFP warhead technology has been applied to many different systems to attack a variety of targets, and we're eager to get LAM into the hands of our Soldiers as soon as possible.”
The LAM is designed to loiter, locate, identify and destroy many high-value mobile targets. An integral part of the Army's Future Combat Systems, the LAM and its LADAR seeker have been successfully demonstrated under previous DARPA NetFires and U.S. Air Force's Low-Cost Autonomous Attack System (LOCAAS) programs, and will be interoperable with the current force as well as the future force.
The NLOS-LS LAM is a ground-launched, canistered tactical missile capable of increasing the warfighter's area of influence through hunter-killer flight operation and automatic target recognition, and can attack or report target locations for attack by other weapons systems.
LAM's LADAR seeker provides three-dimensional analysis of potential targets. The LAM vehicle is 62 inches long and weighs 117 pounds, and can search a wide area or loiter for 30 minutes at a range of 70 kilometers. Two-way data links on LAM will provide for re-tasking while in-flight and down-linking of images.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2004 sales of $35.5 billion.
