Lockheed Martin has demonstrated a new capability that allows the US Army to change the target of a Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rocket while it is in flight.
The test took place at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, where the rocket was launched from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) before receiving updated targeting information.
The company used its Strigo datalink and Remote Interceptor Guidance-360 (RIG-360) system to send the new target information to the rocket during flight.
The GMLRS then successfully struck and destroyed a moving target, marking the first time the system has demonstrated the ability to change targets after launch.
The test was funded internally by Lockheed and showed that the capability can be added to the existing missile without significant modifications.
Technology Could Extend to Other Precision Weapons
The demonstration could give army commanders more control over missile strikes by allowing them to adjust targets after a weapon has been fired, particularly when battlefield conditions change or targets move.
Lockheed said the technology supports the US Army’s plans to connect sensors, launchers, and targeting systems through a network that allows information to be shared across the battlefield.
The company also sees potential for the same datalink technology to be used with other weapons, including Extended Range GMLRS and the Precision Strike Missile.
“By delivering this level of integration between Lockheed Martin products such as GMLRS, RIG-360, and Strigo, we’re giving our warfighters the confidence and capability to succeed in the most complex, real-world scenarios,” said Randy Crites, vice president of Lockheed Martin Advanced Programs.
He added that the integration of existing systems would help commanders respond more quickly to threats while giving them greater flexibility in carrying out strikes.
