Lockheed Martin [LMT] said it recently demonstrated the successful firing of a Javelin missile from a turret at the U.K. Cranfield Ordnance Test & Evaluation Center (COTEC).
The turret was designed and built as a joint project between Lockheed Martin U.K. in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Dallas, Texas, and Orlando, Florida.
The modular turret can be adapted to fit any vehicle, legacy or new, the company said in a statement.
Photo: Raytheon
The production of the turret and successful firing of both a 30mm cannon and a fully integrated Javelin missile has been achieved in a nine-month period.
Although the demonstration used a Javelin missile fired by the turret, the company said it can integrate other missile systems on turrets within weight and space constraints.
“We have already demonstrated our ability to integrate missiles on to a turret to meet a specific customer requirement,” though competitive reasons preclude releasing more detail, the statement said.
“Within reason–space, weight and power–we can integrate most sensors”.the statement added.
Building on Lockheed Martin’s expertise in designing Infantry Fighting Vehicle turrets and its experience in missile systems, this development work is being conducted to support a number of potential business opportunities around the world. There are potential customers in the Middle East as well as militaries that are looking to upgrade existing platforms or purchase new ones, the statement said.
“This firing is the culmination of a tremendous amount of cooperation and hard work between the U.K. and U.S. teams,” said Alan Lines, vice president and managing director, LMUK Ampthill. “The team was able to leverage knowledge gained from other Ground Vehicles programs, such as the Warrior Capability Sustainment Program and Scout Specialist Vehicle, as well as the U.S. Ground Combat Vehicle and Amphibious Combat Vehicle.”
Lockheed Martin turret solutions exceed the accuracy requirements for both static and on-the-move firing, the company said in a statement. The turrets combine enhanced protection and ergonomically driven improvements in fighting capability, which maximize successful missions and significantly increasing crew effectiveness.
Javelin is one-man-portable, anti-tank, guided munition and surveillance weapon system made by the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between Raytheon [RTN] and Lockheed Martin.