Lockheed Martin Advances Joint Fires Concept With Captive Carry Test

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

For the first time, a Lockheed Martin missile communication prototype successfully demonstrated a proof-of-concept for providing in-flight target updates to a surrogate Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS). 

During a recent captive carry test, the company’s Remote Interceptor Guidance – 360 (RIG-360) uplinker prototype provided target updates to a data link being evaluated for experimental use on MLRS Family of Munitions (MFOM). The data link was flown inside of an aircraft replicating the rocket’s surface to surface trajectory.

Integrating the MFOM and RIG-360 would enable long-range precision fires to receive in-flight target updates to accurately engage relocated or mobile targets. The RIG-360 prototype is an internally funded development activity to demonstrate future and evolving art-of-the-possible capabilities.

“This test is a big step forward to advancing the U.S. Army’s Joint Fires vision,” said Scott Arnold, vice president of Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “This proof-of-concept aims to enable Army deep-strike capabilities with offensive fires against moving targets in contested environments, a critical capability to drive agility within the US Army’s connected network and keep our customers ahead of evolving threats.”

A Joint Fires flight test is planned for 2024 to validate in-flight target update capabilities.

“Integrating offensive and defensive systems provides rapid response capability to defeat critical threats,” said Jay Price, vice president of Precision Fires at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “This test is yet another example of how Lockheed Martin is advancing 21st Century Security and delivering next-gen capabilities today.”

The uplink capability demonstrated in this test is based on the RIG-360’s abilities to provide 360-degree in-flight communications capabilities for Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense. Lockheed Martin is currently under an engineering manufacturing and development (EMD) contract to mature this concept into a tactical capability that includes effort to design, build, test, and field RIG-360 for Army IAMD. Once fielded, the capability will augment missile performance by expanding the Army’s area of control and supporting best sensor best shooter capabilities within Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) architecture.