• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Lockheed Martin's Line-of-Sight Antitank System Successful in Two Tests at White Sands Missile Range

DALLAS, TX, February 2nd, 2004 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] successfully conducted two test firings of the Line-of-Sight Antitank Weapon System (LOSAT) at White Sands Missile Range, NM, on January 8. During both tests, a Kinetic Energy Missile (KEM) was fired from the LOSAT fire unit.

The first KEM successfully destroyed a moving M-60 tank at approximately 2,400 meters. The tank was traveling around 22 miles an hour. The second missile destroyed an incoming tank at 2,400 meters. Preliminary data indicates all test objectives were achieved.

"These tests demonstrated the true lethality of the LOSAT system against our required threat targets," said U.S. Army LOSAT Product Director LTC Doug Bushey. "The continued maturity of the system is a testament to the dedication of this government/industry team."

These tests are the latest firings in a series of 18 Developmental Tests that are under the control of the U.S. Army Test & Evaluation community. Developmental testing will be completed in March 2004.

"Both of these LOSAT shots were devastatingly accurate," said Tony Wainwright, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control's director - Kinetic Energy Missile Systems. "We continue to work very closely with our customer and the ultimate user - the warfighter - to incorporate their ideas for improvements and to make the system as user-friendly as possible. The relationship we have formed has significantly contributed to this program's success."

The key advantages of the LOSAT system are its deployability and the tremendous overmatch in lethality of the KEM, which defeats all predicted future armored combat vehicles. The LOSAT Weapon System also provides increased countermeasure effectiveness and survivability for the operator.

LOSAT 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 system can be transported by C-130H low velocity airdrop or by sling load with the UH-60L.

The HMMWV-based LOSAT missile 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 KEM 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, which are easily reloadable with the on-board reload system.

Earlier firings in the LOSAT development test program include:

* On December 18 and on December 4, the LOSAT system successfully destroyed a stationary tank at approximately 1,000 meters and a crossing tank at approximately 2,400 meters.
* On October 20, a stationary armored personnel carrier was destroyed at 720 meters.
* On September 11, the LOSAT system was successful against a moving target in nighttime conditions at approximately 4,300 meters.
* In August 2003, LOSAT obliterated a moving tank at short range.
* In late July 2003, the weapon system destroyed a reinforced urban structure, proving that it can be effective against a variety of targets.

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