Lockheed Martin has conducted the initial flight test of an Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) fitted with a unitary warhead able to destroy buildings, bridges and bunkers.
Fast-track development of the ATACMS Block 1A Unitary Missile equipped with the WAU-23/B blast fragmentation warhead from the Boeing AGM-84 Harpoon was initiated during Operation Allied Force against Yugoslavia in 1999.
The plans were shelved with cessation of the hostilities and a shortfall in funds. Work was suspended just prior to flight testing.
Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract in December - after the US Congress appropriated $5 million - and delivered the first flight test missile in four months. Forty-two 300km- (160nm) range unitary warhead ATACMS will be delivered to the US Army before the end of this year.
The US Army could procure a more capable version of the missile for use against some hardened targets. An operational requirements document is expected to be approved within several months - 400 to 500 weapons would be fielded.
Engineering and manufacturing development could begin next year. A 300km-range missile would take 24 months to develop, while a 500km-rangeversion would take another year as a new rocket motor would be needed.
Earlier ATACMS are armed with bomblets or the Northrop Grumman Brilliant Anti-Armour guided submunitions.
Lockheed Martin has conducted three flight tests of an upgraded M270A1 multiple Launch Rocket System launcher at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The upgrade system includes an improved fire control system able to operate with new smart munitions and a new loading system.Source: Flight International