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| FY98 Annual Report | |||
ARMY TACTICAL MISSILE SYSTEM (ARMY TACMS) BLOCK IA
| Army ACAT IC Program: | Prime Contractor | |
| Total Number of Systems: | 652 | Lockheed Martin Vought Systems |
| Total Program Cost (TY$): | $695.1M | |
| Average Unit Cost (TY$): | $929K | Certified Y2K Compliant |
| Full-rate production: | 2QFY98 | No |
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010
The Army Tactical Missile System (Army TACMS) is a family of long-range, near all-weather guided missiles fired from the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) M270 launcher and deployed within the ammunition loads of corps MLRS battalions. The Army TACMS provides the Joint Task Force (JTF) and corps commanders with an operational fire capability for precision engagement of the enemy throughout the depth of the battlefield beyond the range of currently fielded cannons and rockets. It delays, disrupts, neutralizes or destroys high payoff targets such as combat maneuver units, surface to surface missile units, air defense units, command/control/ communications sites and helicopter forward area rearming/refueling points. The Block IA is an upgrade that doubles the range of the current Army TACMS Block I missile. Army TACMS Block IA dispenses M74 Anti-Personnel, Anti-Materiel (APAM) bomblets as does the Block I. The Army TACMS Block IA's ability to engage the enemy at extended ranges will reinforce the dominant maneuver force by helping the JTF commander shape the battlespace.
The primary changes in Army TACMS Block IA are a reduced payload (from 950 to 300 bomblets) to achieve the extended range and the addition of a Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation aid to the inertial guidance system, to provide missile accuracy at the extended ranges. If GPS is rendered inoperable, the Block IA reverts to inertial guidance only and maintains Block I accuracy, which is not adequate for effectiveness at Block IA ranges.
Prior to completion of the MLRS Improved Fire Control System (IFCS), the M270 launcher will require modifications that include the installation of an interim improved positioning and determining system (IPDS) and an interface for connecting a KYK-13 cryptographic loading device. The IPDS, the positioning and navigation unit of the future IFCS, employs ring laser gyros, force-rebalanced accelerometers, and the GPS to provide launcher location and navigation data. The Army will field three batteries of IPDS-equipped launchers until IFCS is fielded in the M270A1 launcher program.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The most significant deficiency noted in the DOT&E B-LRIP report that followed the 1990 IOT&E was that the ability to conduct target acquisition at the Block I engagement ranges was not demonstrated. DOT&E assessed the Army TACMS Block I to be operationally effective when supported by an adequate targeting system and Block I entered full-rate production. Army TACMS Block I was deployed and fired in Operation Desert Storm.
In October 1993, the USD(A) delegated the decision authority for the Army TACMS Block IA Milestone IV/II decision to the Army. That review was conducted in February 1994. In April 1996, the PEO Tactical Missiles conducted a Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) review of the program and authorized procurement of 70 Block IA missiles.
The Army conducted eight missile firings in formal developmental testing through 1996. The IOT&E, consisting of a ground phase at Fort Sill, OK, and a two-missile live firing phase at White Sands Missile Range, NM, was conducted in August and September 1996. Live Fire testing, consisting of an arena test (22 M74 bomblet firings) and two end-to-end missile firings (one DT shot against a 9-target array and one OT shot against a 15-target array) was completed in September 1996.
Problems with targeting, reliability, and lack of effectiveness against some targets, identified in the Army's and DOT&E's 1997 assessments, caused the Army Acquisition Executive to delay the Milestone III decision until 2QFY98, and grant approval for a second LRIP contract award for 97 missiles. After the LRIP decision, two additional missile firings were conducted in June and December 1997.
TEST & EVALUATION ACTIVITY
The Army Training and Doctrine Command coordinated a sensor-to-shooter assessment of existing test and exercise data to determine the Army's capability to detect targets at the Block IA ranges and its ability to process the information in a timely manner. Also, the XVIII Airborne Corps demonstrated targeting for deep attack in the January 1998 Purple Dragon Joint Exercise. The Program Manager, Army TACMS, sponsored an excursion to a Joint Staff study of Joint Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses in a southwest Asia scenario. The excursion indicated the in-flight survivability of the Block IA in an active threat air defense environment. The Program Manager, Army TACMS, also sponsored additional live fire testing to improve characterization of M74 bomblet effects against the threat targets. Those tests included employment of a live warhead against trucks and fuel containers in the June 1997 test flight; and arena testing to characterize bomblet pyrophoric effects against targets configured with fuel and ammunition.
TEST & EVALUATION ASSESSMENT
In April, DOT&E completed an evaluation of the Army TACMS Block IA and reported the results to Congress. DOT&E determined that the Operational and Live Fire Tests of the Block IA were adequate to evaluate operational effectiveness against medium and long dwell targets. However, primary acquisition of targets at Block IA ranges rely on national and theater imagery sensors that may not be timely or responsive for consistently attacking short dwell targets. The Block IA is effective against the targets specified in the Operational Requirements Document when those targets are found in the open. The Army TACMS Block IA can probably survive against expected hostile air defense threats when employed as part of a comprehensive Joint Suppression of Enemy Air Defense package. The missile is operationally suitable.
The M74 bomblet is effective against personnel and can damage soft materiel targets when detonated in close proximity to the target. Any shielding of critical components significantly reduces the likelihood of damage.
The Army TACMS missiles are weapons of choice for attack of targets where delivery asset survivability (e.g., manned aircraft) against enemy air defense and airborne threats is a major concern.
LESSONS LEARNED
Short dwell targets pose a problem. It is not certain they can be engaged with a high probability of success because of the time required to develop accurate targeting data.
Army TACMS pyrophoric effects are secondary to fragment effects and do not contribute significantly to fire initiation capability against fuel and ammunition.
The Army needs continued emphasis on improving deep attack targeting capabilities and doctrine. Since not one complete Army TACMS Block IA operational mission has been observed or attempted, the Army should encourage Army TACMS participation in joint exercises with live sensors, realistic targets, and coordination of deep attack targeting assets. Evaluation of sensor-to-shooter tactics, techniques, and procedures should continue.
The Army lethality effects models, that use the Joint Munitions Effectiveness Manual characterization of M74 fragmentation, have underpredicted the number of fragments when compared with several ground burst tests of the bomblet. The Army should conduct additional effectiveness modeling of key Block IA targets and incorporate the results into the Joint Munitions Effectiveness Manual so that commanders will be able to employ the number of missiles necessary to achieve desired results.
The Army should examine the feasibility of replacing the M74 bomblet with a more effective one to achieve a product-improved version of the Army TACMS.
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