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Lockheed Martin Unveils Production Design for ATACMS Universal Dispenser

DALLAS, TX, July 17th, 2001 -- Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control today unveiled the proposed production design of the new Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) Universal Dispenser. The ATACMS Universal Dispenser is a multi-functional dispensing system capable of delivering various types of domestic and foreign submunitions from a single dispenser foundation. The Universal Dispenser was designed as a Cost As An Independent Variable (CAIV) initiative on the ATACMS program. Realizing the adaptability and modularity of the design, engineers from Lockheed Martin began working the integration of other submunitions to make the dispenser truly universal.

The Universal Dispenser is a highly cost-effective system, based on over 30 years of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control experience in the development, analysis and successful ground and flight testing of numerous rocket and missile dispense systems.

These systems include radial, aft and spinning dispense in single, staggered and multiple dispense options at subsonic and supersonic velocities. Missiles and Fire Control has extensive experience dispensing Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM), Anti-Personnel/Anti-Materiel (APAM), Sense and Destroy Armor (SADARM) and Northrop Grumman's Brilliant Anti-Armor (BAT) submunitions in subsonic and supersonic dispense environments.

The key to the versatility of the Universal Dispenser is that it remains unchanged for all submunitions. Additionally, the integrated gal flow system is designed to facilitate multiple dispense options. This design leverages Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control's proven dispense expertise and capitalizes on the company's state-of-the-art design, analysis and manufacturing capabilities.

Based on the flexibility of the design, it is possible to transition the Universal Dispenser to other missile systems with varying lengths and diameters. The Universal Dispenser prototype is configured with four quadrants, but can easily be converted to a three-quadrant configuration with a sharper nose to increase aerodynamics, thus increasing range.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control has studied several candidate submunitions for the Universal Dispenser. These include the Low Cost Autonomous Attack System (LOCAAS), SADARM, BAT, Wide-Area Munition (WAM), SMArt155 and BLU-108.

In the four-quadrant configuration, the Universal Dispenser can carry four LOCAAS submunitions, 32 SADARMs or skeet warheads (BLU-108), eight BATs or 16 WAM submunitions. Integration of alternate submunitions, both domestic and foreign, will provide future growth opportunities for the ATACMS Universal Dispenser.

Located in Dallas, Tex.; Orlando, Fla.; and Sunnyvale, Calif., Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control develops, manufactures and supports advanced combat, missile, rocket and space systems. The company is organized in seven program/mission areas: Strike Weapons, Air Defense, Anti-Armor, Naval Munitions, Fire Control and Sensors, Fire Support and Product Development

Craig Vanbebber, 972-603-1615
e-mail craig.vanbebber@lmco.com