Lockheed Martin Delivers First Lightweight, Anti-Armor LOSAT Vehicle to U.S. Army
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 22nd, 2002 -- Lockheed Martin delivered its first Line-of-Sight Antitank (LOSAT) Weapon System Fire Unit, a lightweight system for transformation forces, to the U.S. Army in a ceremony today at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. This was the first of 12 LOSAT Fire Units that will be delivered to the Army as part of the Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD) program. Accepting the first vehicle on behalf of the Army were Brigadier General Jeff Sorenson, PEO Tactical Missiles; Major General Paul Eaton, Commanding General - U.S. Army Infantry Center; and Captain Paul Salmon, A-511 Commander.
MG Eaton said, "LOSAT is extraordinarily lethal. This is a good news story, both from an industry perspective and for our acquisition system."
"This is a great day," said BG Sorenson. "I would like to say that LOSAT offers not only overmatch capability, but is one of the Army's first transformational systems providing lighter, more lethal fires."
"C-130 transportable LOSAT will bring overwhelming firepower to light and early entry forces," said Tom Goslin, vice president - Anti-Armor for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "Once in the hands of our soldiers, LOSAT will be capable of defeating any armored threat our transformation forces may face. This lightweight weapon system sets the standard for highly deployable, highly lethal kinetic energy anti-armor weapons."
LOSAT provides a high volume of extremely lethal and accurate missile fire that is effective against heavy armor systems at ranges exceeding tanks' main gun ranges. LOSAT consists of kinetic energy missiles (KEM) and a second-generation FLIR/video acquisition sensor mounted on an air-mobile, heavy HMMWV chassis. The LOSAT weapon system will help remedy the forced-entry/early-entry force lethality shortfall against heavy armor because it can deploy with both forces.
The key advantages of the LOSAT are the tremendous overmatch lethality of the KEM, which defeats all predicted future armored combat vehicles, and its deployability. The LOSAT weapon system also provides increased survivability for the operator and countermeasure effectiveness. It operates to the maximum range of direct-fire combat engagements and provides dramatically increased rates of fire and enhanced performance under day and night, adverse weather and obscured battlefield conditions.
The LOSAT-equipped Expanded Capacity HMMWV has a combat weight of 11,634 lbs. The system has a range of several miles and is "near fire and forget." With a missile speed of 5,000 feet per second, it reaches maximum range in less than five seconds. The LOSAT missile is a hit-to-kill missile with no explosive warhead. It carries a long rod penetrator and destroys the target through the application of brute force. Each HMMWV chassis mounts four missile launch pods.
The system can be reloaded in less than 10 minutes using on board materiel handling equipment. The kinetic energy missile weighs 174 pounds, is 113 inches long and 6.4 inches in diameter. The current system provides for a three-man crew, but a crew of two can conduct engagements. The system uses a state of the art second-generation Forward Looking Infrared sight for target detection and recognition. The system will be fully integrated into the digitized battlefield for improved situational awareness. Provisions are also being made for the development of a LOSAT system enhancement program with a design goal of maintaining the current missile's range and lethality while significantly reducing the size.
The HMMWV LOSAT is extremely survivable through its tactical employment and the incorporation of new technologies. As a key component of the combined arms team, LOSAT will be used as one of a number of weapon systems positioned in depth to engage enemy forces. Firing from concealed positions, from beyond enemy force's engagement range and rapidly displacing to alternate firing positions will greatly enhance survivability. LOSAT survivability is also enhanced by the combination of its mobility, it's near fire and forget capability, reduced signature and improved situational awareness.
The system is extremely mobile. The superior cross-country mobility of the HMMWV is not degraded by the addition of the LOSAT system to the vehicle. Additionally, the system can be moved across the battlefield by sling load with the UH-60L.
The LOSAT system has been designed for maximum sustainability. The system is equipped with on board materiel handling equipment for ease of reload. There is a bare minimum of crew maintenance to the system. Built in test equipment eliminates the need for any new test measurement or diagnostic equipment. Snap in and out line replaceable units will be evacuated to the rear.
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control develops, manufactures and integrates world-class air defense, fire support, strike weapon, naval munition, combat vision, anti-armor and advanced product solutions and systems for U.S. and international armed forces.
Craig Vanbebber
Office 972-603-1615
Mobile 214-534-1921
e-mail craig.vanbebber@lmco.com
Joy Sabol
Mobile 407-256-7199
Office 407-356-2207
joy.sabol@lmco.com
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
