Lockheed Martin [LMT] recently said it successfully proved the interoperability of the U.S. Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile with British M270B1 launchers in a recent test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
The flawless test provided the members of the British military and U.K. Defence Equipment & Support delegation a close look at ATACMS as they work to further determine their artillery system requirements.
M270B1 is the designation for the U.K.’s Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launcher, which has been in use with U.K. forces since the early 1990s.
The current M270B1 allows the firing of all MLRS rocket munitions, but not ATACMS, which is not fielded by the U.K.
There’s always the chance that the United Kingdom in the future might need a deep strike missile. The test proved that with a simple software system upgrade the M270B1 launcher could broaden its MLRS-based capabilities to include ATACMS.
“The ATACMS firing was a great success demonstrating the profound reach and precision that this missile brings,” Mark Bunyan, U.K. Army Artillery Systems team leader, said in a statement.
The test used an ATACMS Unitary variant to destroy a target 130 kilometers away. The operation met all mission objectives, which included: demonstrating the missile–U.K. launcher interface; validating missile performance and accuracy; proving performance of system software; and obtaining performance, technical and reliability data.
“Lockheed Martin works hard to meet the needs of our customers,” Scott Arnold, vice president for Precision Fires and Combat Maneuver Systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said. “We welcome the opportunity to strengthen customer capability with the full range of the MLRS family of munitions.”
In addition to the United States., ATACMS is fielded in Bahrain, Greece, South Korea and Turkey.