Lockheed Martin [LMT] recently demonstrated and validated that its Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) can be launched from any MK 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) by modifying the software to existing shipboard equipment, according to a company statement.
During the company-funded test in December, LRASM, Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS), MK 41 VLS and Mk-114 booster hardware with modified software executed simulated missions and provided all electrical interfaces and data transfers needed to prepare and launch LRASMs. Lockheed Martin spokeswoman Melissa Hilliard said Thursday this proved that LRASM needed only software modifications and no hardware modifications to be launched vertically.
LRASM is an autonomous, precision-guided anti-ship standoff missile leveraging Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range (JASSM-ER) heritage. It is designed to meet the offensive anti-surface weapon needs of the Navy and Air Force. Lockheed Martin has invested $30 million to reduce risk and accelerate LRASM initial operational capability on Navy destroyers while the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has invested $400 million, according to Frank St. John, Lockheed Martin missiles and fire control vice president of tactical missiles.
LRASM had two successful air launched flight tests of a tactically representative missile in 2013: one in August and another in November, both from an Air Force B-1B at the Pt. Mugu, Calif., sea range. These tests were DARPA funded, Hilliard said. The test in August successfully searched and tracked the target among multiple tracks and autonomously routed it to target and conducted attack with no target updates. The November test included all first event objectives from August plus four first time events, according to briefing slides provided by Lockheed Martin. The November test also exceeded objective range and ingressed at lower tactical altitude.
LRASM also had three successful surface launch events in 2013, two live and one simulated. LRASM in February had a successful “push-through” test where the missile survived its push through the canister lid. St. John said Wednesday this is important because the nose cone can damage the missile and alter its capabilities. This test was funded under a $30 million company investment to de-risk surface launch. LRASM in September had a successful boosted test vehicle (BTV) flight in which Lockheed Martin demonstrated Mk-114 booster and MK 41 VLS canister design maturity and performance. Lockheed Martin said it demonstrated LRASM missile egress from canister with no damage.
LRASM in December had its successful TTWCS/MK 41 shipboard integration testing that verified compatibility and validated that the missile can be integrated on Navy destroyer platforms with only software modifications. Lockheed Martin has two DARPA-funded surface launch demonstrations, including vertical launch to full flight scheduled for 2014, one in August and one in October.
St. John said Lockheed Martin has plans in place to facilitate production by leveraging the JASSM and JASSM-ER production lines, if the Pentagon ultimately chooses to buy the system. The test articles for the air launched and surface launched demonstration program were built in the JASSM factory, St. John said, and made by JASSM production staff using JASSM tooling and test equipment. St. John said Lockheed Martin believes this will provide very low risk for the production transition, if it is to occur.
St. John also said the manufacturing processes required to produce a large amount of LRASMs have already started based on the prototype work performed in the factory. Lockheed Martin invested to expand factory capability, St. John said, so that as additional quantities are added, it will only take additional sets of tooling to produce not only the future Navy LRASM requirements, but also future Navy requirements at the same factory.
“We think as this program moves through engineering, manufacturing and development (EMD), all of the EMD test articles will be built in this same factory and production will transition very seamlessly going forward,” St. John said.
Lockheed Martin is also starting to work with Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., for integration of LRASM on the F-18, St. John said. The company has performed preliminary testing, which St. John said is encouraging in its ability to put LRASM in the VLS cells for the surface Navy. The F-18 is developed by
Boeing [BA].
DARPA in December issued a sole source notice for a LRASM follow-on development program, according to a notice posted on Federal Business Opportunities (FBO). DARPA says in the notice the follow-on will conduct further sensor and avionics hardware development based on previous results achieved and will also provide for fabrication of missile hardware to enable additional missile flight tests. The follow-on effort will be completed within 24 months after contract award.
Lockheed Martin said it won a $54 million DARPA contract modification for two vertical launch demos in 2014.