Lockheed Martin [LMT] recently said it successfully demonstrated the launch, guided flight, target acquisition and precision strike capability of its Nemesis missile in three flight tests at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
Nemesis is a man-portable, surface-launched missile that enables warfighters to engage targets with precision lethality from as close as 100 meters to well beyond line of sight, the company said in a statement. The missile can be used during dismounted operations as well as be adapted for employment from various ground, maritime or airborne platforms.
“Nemesis provides critical performance to forward-deployed troops in response to a stated warfighter capability gap,” said Frank St. John, vice president of tactical missiles and combat maneuver systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Warfighters must be able to trust that the weapons they deploy will deliver the intended effects every time. Our three-for-three flight tests demonstrate the missile is reliable and lethal.”
In the first two tests, Nemesis demonstrated vertical launch, GPS navigation to targets located at distances of eight and 12 kilometers, engagement by the missile’s semi-active laser (SAL) seeker and live warhead detonation, the company statement said. In both flights, Nemesis performed flawlessly, destroying the intended targets. The successful third shot demonstrated the vertical launch of an inert round, followed by GPS-only navigation to a target positioned just 100 meters away.
“We look forward to collaboration with potential customers for ground-launched or air-launched standoff fires solutions,” Tom Bargnesi, Lockheed Martin Nemesis Program Manager, said.
Nemesis was developed in response to an RFI posted Aug. 3 2011 for Short-Range Precision Strike System (SRPSS) for the Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) and Special Operations Forces, he added.
Nemesis is fired vertically from a tripod-mounted launch tube, enabling 360-degree engagement capability, Bargnesi said. A combat-proven rocket motor, deployable wing and GPS guidance enable the missile to engage targets in excess of 12 kilometers. The missile’s SAL seeker activates in the terminal phase of flight to provide precision accuracy and minimize collateral damage. The user is also able to select height of burst or point-detonation fuzing options to optimize lethality against enemy personnel, light armored vehicles and structures.
Nemesis can be deployed from airborne Common Launch Tubes, which fulfills existing Special Operations Forces and Marine requirements for a standoff precision guided munition. The missile also can be configured for internal or external carriage on other fixed- and rotary-wing platforms. Nemesis’ versatility enables it to contribute to a wide array of critical missions.
Lockheed Martin funded the development of the Nemesis missile, building upon proven technologies from demonstrated systems, including Hellfire II, Direct Attack Guided Rocket (DAGR) and the small, light precision Scorpion. Using components from these systems reduces risk and shortens the time from initial development to participation in government-funded flight tests.