The US Army and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have brought in a second contractor to develop a precision attack munition for the Netfires fire support system.
A year ago, Raytheon won a contract to develop the modular container/launcher unit (C/LU), loitering attack munition (LAM) and precision attack munition (PAM) for field trials within four years.
Lockheed Martin also received a contract, but only for C/LU and LAM development. DARPA has now awarded Lockheed Martin a $700,000 study contract to mature its PAM design. Subsequent ground and flight testing of its PAM prototype could earn Lockheed Martin as much as $25 million.
Lockheed Martin is also developing a smaller version of its laser radar (LADAR)-equipped Low Cost Autonomous Attack System (LOCAAS) for the LAM mission.
Netfires evolved from DARPA's Advanced Fire Support System programme and is a key element of the US Army emerging Future Combat System. Unofficially dubbed a "missile-in-a-box", the aim is to speed deployment and reduce logistics support for next-generation fire support weapons.
The Netfires C/LU will contain up to 16 45kg (100lb) LAM/PAM weapons and would be mounted on a wheeled vehicle or deployed by helicopter.
LAM would loiter over a battlefield until its LADAR seeker could find targets. PAM would use a terminal seeker, possibly an active laser or infrared sensor, to attack known targets. Targets would include heavy and light armour as well as fixed targets. An air defence role is contemplated using a different weapon.
Source: Flight International