By Ann Roosevelt
NetFires LLC, a joint venture between Raytheon [RTN] Missile Systems and Lockheed Martin [LMT] Missiles and Fire Control, announced the completion of the first guided test flight of the Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System’s (NLOS LS) Precision Attack Missile (PAM) with a direct hit against a stationary T-72 tank at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
“This was a big day for the NLOS-LS team,” said Col. Doug Dever, the Army’s NLOS-LS Project Manager. “This shot verifies the missile can transition to [infrared] IR to get an optimal kill shot on its intended target to ensure one missile, one kill”
The Army is accelerating the delivery of NLOS-LS to soldiers in its 43 infantry brigade combat teams.
NetFires LLC is developing NLOS-LS under a $1.1 billion contract for systems development and demonstration in 2004 (Defense Daily, March 23). Raytheon is developing the PAM missile.
In July, the team reported successful missile testing, all of which lead up to complete system testing in the third quarter of fiscal year 2009 (Defense Daily, July 17).
“NLOS-LS represents an exciting, new capability within the IBCT (Infantry Brigade Combat Team) to precisely engage moving targets,” Col. Tony Daskevich, Army Training and Doctrine Command capabilities manager for Rockets and Missile Systems.
Scott Speet, executive vice president of NetFires LLC and Raytheon’s NLOS-LS program director, said, “The PAM missile, launched from a Container Launch Unit, used its digital, semi-active laser seeker to score a direct hit against a T-72 tank target. The test demonstrated the performance of the complete NLOS-LS system.”
While guiding to its intended target, the PAM missile joined the network with its onboard radio and sent back a terminal target image, the company said. The PAM missile also operated as a node on the net throughout the flight.
“NLOS-LS once again proves it is on a path to meet the Future Combat Systems’ lethal requirements,” Dever said.
The NLOS-LS is one of the 14 Future Combat Systems core systems. As part of the FCS systems-of-systems, Speet said, “The NLOS-LS system provides commanders with immediate responsive precision fires against moving and stationary land and sea targets. GTV-2 further proved this capability when it launched a PAM missile from a Container Launch Unit and used its dual mode seeker to score a direct hit against a stationary T-72 tank.”
GTV-2 marks the second time the NLOS-LS CLU was used in a flight test of the PAM missile. The CLU will continue to be used in all 16 remaining development test flights.
The test demonstrated the PAM seeker’s ability to acquire the target with its semi-active laser seeker, process the target information and transfer the information to its un- cooled imaging infrared mode seeker for final target processing and terminal guidance.
Additionally, the PAM missile, while guiding to its intended target, joined the network with its onboard radio, sent back a terminal target image during the flight and operated as a node on the net throughout the flight.
The CLU executed the launch event and provided fire mission processing from its onboard mission computer and communications system.
The NLOS-LS CLU provides a tactical mission capability to rapid fire all 15 missiles at five-second intervals. Power management application, GPS location and system status are other elements provided by the MCCS.
The NLOS-LS system consists of the CLU with self-contained tactical fire control electronics and software for remote and unmanned operations. Each launch unit houses 15 Precision Attack Missiles.
The PAM is a vertical launched munition able to engage moving targets using automatic target acquisition. The missile receives target information before launching and can receive and respond to target location updates during flight. The missiles also can transmit near-real-time information in the form of target imagery prior to impact.
The NLOS-LS has been under examination by Army Evaluation Task Force (AETF) soldiers since early 2008 where soldiers are working to develop and validate NLOS-LS doctrine, organization and training for soldiers.