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| FY98 Annual Report | |||
LINE-OF-SIGHT ANTITANK MISSILE (LOSAT)
| Army Pre-MDAP ACTD Program: | Prime Contractor | |
| Total Program Cost (TY$) | $255M | Lockheed Martin Vought Systems |
| Service Certified Y2K Compliant | ||
| No |
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010
The Line-Of Sight AntiTank (LOSAT) Missile is a dedicated antitank weapon system designed to provide a high rate of extremely lethal fire, defeating any known or projected armor systems at ranges greater than 4 km. The system consists of an expanded capacity High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) with a two-man crew, four hypervelocity kinetic energy missiles, and a second-generation forward-looking infrared/TV acquisition sensor. LOSAT is deployable on C-130 through C-5 aircraft including airdrop from the C-130.
LOSAT is capable of operating autonomously or with other systems using its digitized command and control capability. The fire control system allows the gunner/commander to acquire and auto-track up to three targets. Once a launch consent is issued, the system automatically initializes and guides the missiles to the targets in a sequential manner. The missile accelerates to 5000 feet per second, flies to maximum range in less than four seconds, and has the capability to deliver five times the kinetic energy of current tank rounds.
LOSAT is intended to contribute to Joint Vision 2010 as a precision engagement system enhancing the Army's dominant maneuver capabilities in the ground battle.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The LOSAT program began as an Army Acquisition Category I system with oversight by DOT&E. In 1992, analysis by the Army caused the program to be reduced to a Technology Demonstration. Although the Joint Requirements Oversight Council upgraded the program to an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) in 4QFY97, formal testing of the LOSAT has remained severely limited. Initially, LOSAT was to be mounted on an extended length Bradley Fighting Vehicle. As a Technology Demonstration it was to be mounted on an Armored Gun System (AGS) chassis, but when the AGS program was canceled, LOSAT was reconfigured to a HMMWV chassis. Current design efforts involve updating the missile electronics and integrating the fire unit electronics into the HMMWV.
TEST & EVALUATION ACTIVITY
There was no T&E activity this year.
Testing is expected to resume in 2002 and 2003 with an air mobility demonstration of system air-drop and sling-load capability, a live-fire demonstration with user-in-the-loop, and a force-on-force exercise in conjunction with a brigade rotation at the National Training Center, Ft. Irwin, CA.
TEST & EVALUATION ASSESSMENT
At this stage of the program's history, only limited assessments based on earlier developmental tests are possible. Under controlled test conditions the missile is capable of defeating any known tank it hits. Also, launch effects for shock, g-load, flash, toxic gases, pressure, and sound (in and outside the vehicle) fall within the Army's acceptable ranges for human factors.
Numerous operational performance issues must be addressed in future testing-either within the ACTD or in subsequent formal OT&E covered by a TEMP.
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