Lockheed Martin's LOSAT Successfully Completes Developmental Testing
Limited user testing to begin in April
Dallas, TX, March 25th, 2004 -- Lockheed Martin's [NYSE: LMT] Line-of-Sight Antitank Weapon System (LOSAT) completed its Developmental Test program on March 9 with the successful launch of a Kinetic Energy Missile (KEM) against a target tank at White Sands Missile Range, NM. The tank was destroyed by the hit-to-kill KEM.
The Developmental Test program, begun in June 2003, was under the control of the U.S. Army Test & Evaluation community. Over the past eight months, the LOSAT weapon system fired 18 KEMs at various targets, including a stationary armored personnel carrier, a reinforced urban structure, and stationary and moving tanks, all at various ranges in both nighttime and daytime conditions.
"The entire LOSAT team has remained focused on successfully completing this rigorous test schedule," said Ron Abbott, vice president - Tactical Missiles at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "We are very proud of the outstanding results, and know that LOSAT will provide soldiers with an exceptional hit-to-kill, kinetic energy missile that meets the requirements of the current and future force."
In addition to live fire testing, soldiers from Alpha Company/511 PIR 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC, have been conducting field training using their LOSAT fire units and resupply vehicles in preparation for an April Limited User Test that will be conducted at Fort Bliss, TX, in April and May.
"Morale is great and our soldiers are really enjoying training with the systems in a field environment," said CPT Mark Chandler, Commander of A Company, 511th PIR at Fort Bragg, NC. "All LOSAT systems have been operating at 100 percent, and we are looking forward to deploying with the systems for the April test at Fort Bliss. This April training exercise will demonstrate to the Army test community the extremely lethal combat capability the LOSAT system will bring to the Army and especially early entry forces."
Representatives from Lockheed Martin, the customer community at Fort Benning, GA, and the program management office in Huntsville have been working with the soldiers to develop tactics, techniques and procedures that the new unit will be using. Lockheed Martin technical representatives have been working with the unit to ensure all systems are operational during this training period.
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, the KEM 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 LOSAT vehicle mounts four missile launch pods on the roof of the HMMWV.
Some of the earlier firings in the LOSAT development test program include:
* On February 26, 2003, the LOSAT system successfully destroyed a bunker field fortification. A second KEM traveled approximately 3,900 meters and impacted a main battle tank. Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC, supported the tests.
* On December 18 and on December 4, 2003, 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, 2003, a stationary armored personnel carrier was destroyed at 720 meters.
* On September 11, 2003, 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
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