Israel-based electronics and weapons maker Elbit Systems has unveiled a new laser-guided rocket that is under review by military helicopter operators in Israel and the USA.
The Star system adapts the 2.75in (70mm) Hydra rocket with a semi-active laser in the nose using technology derived from Elbit's Lizard precision guided weapon kits, says Benjamin Weiser, Elbit's senior director of business development for helicopter upgrades.
The weapon has been test fired so far from one of Israel's armed Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks. Elbit also recently demonstrated the Star to the US Army with an in-flight firing test, but Weiser declines to name the aircraft used.
The US Army is testing at least five other known laser-guided rockets under the banner of the aviation multi-platform munitions (AMPM) programme.
An acquisition notice posted earlier this year appeared to exclude any technology offered by Elbit from the programme, as it said five other candidates were the only rockets available within the demonstration schedule.
Elbit is partnered with one of the competing firms. Alliant Techsystems (ATK) has teamed up with the company to offer the US Army the Guided Attack Tactical Rocket (GATR). Elbit confirms that the technology for Star is not related to the GATR programme.
BAE Systems' advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS) II, Lockheed Martin's direct attack guided rocket, Raytheon's Griffin and Textron's Sharp Shooter are other contenders.
The US Army has been trying to buy a guided rocket for several years. It cancelled the APKWS contract with General Dynamics is 2005, and awarded a follow-on deal to BAE. But it later transferred APKWS II to the US Marine Corps, and launched the AMPM demonstration programme for off-the-shelf technologies earlier this year.
Source: Flight International
