A next-generation guided ammunition system for intercepting enemy fire that Lockheed Martin is developing for the Army has hit its targets in an initial series of tests by the company. Lockheed’s Extended Area Protection and Survivability (EAPS) hit-to-kill interceptor is a ground-mounted gun system meant to stop and destroy enemy rockets, artillery shells, and mortars by tracking fired targets before they reach their intended mark.
The weapon -- which has a 360-degree range of protection -- represents a new direction in anti-artillery fire aimed at keeping Army ground forces safe from enemy weapons after they are launched, a capability that is currently limited, according to the Army.
Bill Nourse, manager of the Extended Area Protection and Survivability Program, explains the concept behind an interceptor missile to John McHugh, secretary of the Army; John Rogers, civilian aide to the secretary of the Army; Gen. Ann Dunwoody, commander of Army Materiel Command; and Steve Cornelius, director for Missile Development, AMRDEC. Nourse holds in his hand the system's interceptor bullet, which is designed to be compact and lightweight. (Source: Army)
During recent tests, the EAPS system’s fire control sensors were able to track targets for a full target engagement sequence, from launch of an enemy projectile to a simulated launch of an EAPS missile to interception of the enemy weapon, according to Lockheed.
The company collaborated with the US Army Research Development & Engineering Command/Aviation Missile Research Development & Engineering Center (AMRDEC) to conduct the tests, which demonstrated the system’s ability to track and intercept an enemy weapon from the time it’s been launched during its entire trajectory. "The data collected is being analyzed so that the program learns as much as possible and we can incorporate improvements and changes where needed," said Loretta Painter, AMRDEC EAPS program director, in a press statement.
Lockheed has designed the EAPS system to be small and agile. Its interceptors, or bullets, weigh about 3kg and are less than 50mm in diameter and less than 1m long. In addition to the interceptor, the system also features a radar-sensing system for tracking its targets. The system was also built to be modular, supporting existing and multiple launchers and fire control sensors that the Army already has been using.
Affordability is also a key design goal for the system, which Lockheed said will meet the AMRDEC's goals for average unit production costs at specified quantities. The initial series of EAPS tests is a precursor to several more Integrated Demonstration flight tests of the system Lockheed has scheduled, including a non-targeted test flight later this month and several guided flights against tactical targets later in the summer.
This technology seems like it could really save a lot of lives. Heartening to hear that initial tests show it hits its mark. What's the time gap between subsequent rounds of testing and when it can actually hit the battlefield?
Elizabeth, this is an amazing feat. I worked on SDI many years ago and we were developing technology like this to intercept ICBMs. The fact that such small and extensive systems can be developed to protect from things like artillery shells is truly taking that technology to the next level.
Come to think of it, if we can do this, maybe SDI is not such a stretch after all.
Elizabeth I really enjoyed this story. I designed parts of the fuze portion of the Patriot missile. This is some good technology and so many advancements are continuing to be made and discovered.
SDI was the first thing that I thought of, too, Naperlou. Obviously, there are differences in the types and altitudes of the targets, but the basic concept seems to be there.
I also remember how people scoffed at SDI when it was first proposed. Amazing how small the rockets are (like a Patriot missle in the palm of your hand).
On a side note, I wonder if the radar tracking system could be fooled by any chafe ejected by the incoming object.
1999 - Mars Climate Orbiter lost because of a metric / US units mixup.
2003 - NOAA N-Prime weathe satellite dropped because one team borrowed retaining bolts without telling the other.
2011 - F22 Raptor pilots losing consciousness due to an as yet repaired oxygen generator problem.
What do these three things have in common?
Lockheed Martin and its culture of lack of procedural discipline. The first two incidents should NEVER have occurred. It will be interesting to learn what is really wrong with the F22 oxygen generators.
The company has a history that they can't seem to shake, and it costs taxpayers. I want this rocket intercept system to work; it's a bloody good concept. But I don't want design bugs fixed when the Army purchases the next upgrade.
"Bloody typical. They've gone back to metric without telling us." I think of this quote from Bob Hoskins' character from the 1985 movie Brazil every time I see Lockeed Martin in a headline now. They've earned it.
The headline and lead paragraph are somewhat misleading. The rest of the article explains that the targets hit so far are theoretical and programmatic. They haven't actually launched any ordnance yet. SDI is pretty old school by now but I'm sure that looked good in simulation too. The proof comes when you have an actual missile in the air and the system shoots it down. Somebody else said that we're talking smaller distances but we're also talking about smaller targets and maybe higher speeds.
Artillery ammunition isn't currently that sophisticated.It is unlikely that an adversary would waste time trying on-projectile counter measures as any additional payload would require a reduction in warhead size. Ultimately an arms race in this niche would result in expensive artillery rounds that were less effective than they were originally - a win-win for us!
Yes, if you read the article it has only been successful as a simulation. Until real-life targets and real-life countermeasures work it is still pie-in-the-sky. And collateral damage has to be zero = no non-targets destroyed. It's too early for the posted enthusiasm.
Closing speed in this application is an order of magnitude less than BMD (the current progeny of SDI), and BMD has proven fairly successful.
Current systems like the CIWS can detect, track, and intercept artillery rounds with unguided 20mm DU or tungsten rounds.Although it shoots 3000 rnds/min to accomplish the task, this new system uses a guided interceptor to reduce the amount of ammo expended for defense.
Lock Mart has had some issues in other areas in the past, but also a long line of successes in the missile realm (PAC-3, THAAD, ATACMS, GMLRS, Hellfire...).Although it is ballistically launched, a guided weapon is a guided weapon.
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