Marotta Controls said Monday that it has been selected by Lockheed Martin [LMT] to join its Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) industry team to provide the pneumatic cooling system (PCS) for the imaging infrared (I2R) sensor within the JAGM tri-mode seeker.
“Selecting Marotta’s mature, in-production technology enhances our team’s ability to offer an affordable, low-risk solution to our customers’ requirements,” Hady Mourad, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control JAGM program director, said.
JAGM is the next-generation air-to-ground missile that will be carried on U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine rotary-wing, fixed-wing and unmanned aerial system (UAS) platforms, replacing the HELLFIRE II, airborne TOW, and Maverick missiles.
As part of the Lockheed Martin industry team, Marotta will design, develop and test the PCS system for JAGM’s I2R sensor, which provides passive (undetected) targeting of sophisticated threats from safe standoff range. Marotta will leverage its experience with its proven M-PACT (Pure Air Compression Technology) family of systems to ensure the rapid development of a cost-effective and low-risk PCS solution.
The M-PACT system is in use with the Navy for the cooling of the AIM-9M Sidewinder missile, and is presently in full-rate production at Marotta’s facility in Montville, New Jersey.
M-PACT Pure Air Compression Technology is a complete airborne compression and dehydration system designed to provide a continuous source of pure dry cool air to the infrared seeker. Consisting of three main components – an electronic controller, micro-compressor and valve manifold assembly.
“We are proud to join the Lockheed Martin industry team on this very important program,” Michael Leahan, vice president and chief sales officer at Marotta, said. “This is an exciting opportunity for us to leverage our experience to contribute to this critical next-generation system that will protect the nation’s Warfighters against today’s and tomorrow’s threats.”