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Naval
Defense Industry News - USA |
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Lockheed Martin Successfully Launches First LRASM Boosted Test Vehicle
From MK 41 VLS
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Lockheed Martin successfully launched the first Long Range Anti-Ship
Missile (LRASM) Boosted Test Vehicle (BTV) from a MK 41 Vertical Launch
System (VLS) canister at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. During the
company-funded test, the MK41 VLS successfully launched the LRASM BTV.
The BTV, which includes the proven Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rocket
(VL/ASROC) Mk-114 rocket motor, ignited successfully, penetrated and
exited through the canister cover and performed a guided flight profile
similar to a tactical configuration. |
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An LRASM launches from a MK41 VLS during the test
(Picture: Lockheed Martin)
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The flight
test was part of an ongoing Lockheed Martin-funded Offensive Anti-Surface
Weapon effort, independent of the Defense Advanced Research Project
Agency (DARPA) LRASM program, focused on shipboard integration of LRASM’s
surface launched variant.
Building on the recent push-through testing which proved the missile’s
ability to break through the canister cover with no damage to the missile,
the BTV launch is also an important risk reduction milestone critical
to demonstrating LRASM’s surface launch capability. |
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An LRASM launches from a VLS (Artist Impression)
(Picture: Lockheed Martin)
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LRASM
is an autonomous, precision-guided anti-ship standoff missile leveraging
the successful Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range
(JASSM-ER) heritage, and is designed to meet the needs of U.S. Navy
and Air Force warfighters.
“This successful flight test reduces the risk of LRASM and VLS
integration,” said Scott Callaway, LRASM surface launch program
manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “The test
also validates the Mk-114 rocket motor’s capability to launch
LRASM and the missile’s ability to cleanly exit the canister without
damaging the missile coatings or composite structure.” |
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Lockheed Martin LRASM - Lockheed Martin Video |
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The BTV
flight was the first time a Mk-114 rocket motor was used to launch LRASM.
The Mk-114 rocket motor is currently deployed as the rocket motor for
the VL/ASROC, so this flight test verified that the Mk-114’s robust
design can be used for heavy payloads with minimal software changes
to the Digital Autopilot Controller.
Armed with a proven penetrator and blast-fragmentation warhead, LRASM
cruises autonomously, day or night, in all weather conditions. The missile
employs a multi-modal sensor, weapon data link and an enhanced digital
anti-jam Global Positioning System to detect and destroy specific targets
within a group of ships.
LRASM is in development with DARPA and the Office of Naval Research.
Lockheed Martin’s offering has both surface launched and air launched
variants to prosecute sea-based targets at significant standoff ranges. |
