Pentagon Seeks More Power From Vehicles

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Pentagon Seeks More Power From Vehicles

via Military News Center on 6/9/09

A strong argument could be made that the recent innovations in ground-vehicle armor, vehicle-mounted communications and sensor equipment brought about by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that the U.S. military is in a "Golden Age" for tactical vehicles.

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Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder Missile Demonstrates Surface-Launch Capabilities

Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder Missile Demonstrates Surface-Launch Capabilities:

"PARIS, June 15, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) AIM-9X Sidewinder missile demonstrated surface-to-air capability when it engaged an unmanned aircraft vehicle target during a May 16 test.

"The AIM-9X is a fifth-generation, high off-boresight, infrared-guided missile developed and deployed for the air-to-air mission. This test marks the second time the AIM-9X was fired in a surface-to-air role.

"'The AIM-9X team was pleased to assist the U.S. Marine Corps with this successful demonstration,' said Capt. Jeffrey Penfield, the U.S. Navy's Air-to-Air Missile program manager. 'The AIM-9X missile has tremendous air-to-air capabilities, and this demonstration may help our warfighters exploit these capabilities in complementary employment methods.'

"During the test a telemetered AIM-9X was cued by an off-board sensor. The missile, which was mounted on a LAU-7A/D launcher on a U.S. Marine Corps Humvee, tracked, launched and guided to within lethal range of the target."

Global Partners Building Global Security: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Builds Global Security Through Enduring Air Power

Global Partners Building Global Security: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Builds Global Security Through Enduring Air Power:

"Addressing the evolving threats to world security is a priority, said George Standridge, vice president of Business Development for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. 'In times of uncertainty, more than ever, our military customers need stability - which means economic strength and global security. Air Power remains critical to ensuring global security, and Lockheed Martin has a long, proven history of providing air power solutions to nations around the world.'

'Lockheed Martin Aeronautics provides air power that gives our customers an asymmetric advantage over these threats during traditional conflicts, irregular warfare and catastrophic events,' said Standridge. 'We have had excellent records of achieving success with programs like the C-130, F-16 and others, and it's a track record we will continue with the F-35. This kind of success has been a benefit not only to Lockheed Martin but also to our customers in nations around the world,' he said."

F-35 Lightning II Brings 5th Generation Capabilities to the Navy

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F-35 Lightning II Brings 5th Generation Capabilities to the Navy:

"WASHINGTON, May 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) executive said Friday that the 5th Generation F-35 Lightning II will help meet the challenges of future forces across the range of military operations.

'The F-35 was designed to operate and survive in high-threat battlespace defined by advanced surface-to-air missile systems, and while outnumbered by top-of-the-line 4th generation fighters - a distinct probability for future combat scenarios faced by naval aviators,' said Steve O'Bryan, vice president of Lockheed Martin F-35 Business Development. 'The F-35 will incorporate the most advanced net-enabled mission systems, sensor and communications suite ever fielded in a fighter aircraft. It will be a key node in the kind of information-collection and distribution networks so valuable to sea, land and air forces today and in the future.'"

Lockheed Martin's HIMARS Launcher Successfully Fires Air Defense Missile

Lockheed Martin's HIMARS Launcher Successfully Fires Air Defense Missile:

"DALLAS, March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- A Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher successfully fired two Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) during a U.S. Army 'common launcher' feasibility demonstration at White Sands Missile Range, NM. U.S. Army and industry representatives conducted the 'proof of concept' firing to examine the viability of firing an air defense missile from the currently-fielded HIMARS.

"The demonstration featured two modified AMRAAMs, which were rail-launched from a modified Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) enclosure assembly launch pod mounted on a HIMARS launcher. The test, in which all objectives were met, included the operational test missiles (configured from excess AMRAAM assets); integration of modified Surfaced Launched AMRAAM launch rails into an empty ATACMS pod; and the launch of the AMRAAMs using the HIMARS fire control system with modified software.

"The Army is evaluating HIMARS as a potential solution for a light 'common launcher' for future air defense, Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System and ATACMS munitions. In addition to its capability to support multi-mission munitions, the HIMARS launcher offers tactical flexibility, high reliability and C-130 transportability."

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Fields Expeditionary Fire Support System

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Fields Expeditionary Fire Support System:

"ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), announced today that they have successfully fielded the Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) with the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Artillery Regiment located at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

"As the third leg of the USMC's triad of land-based fire support for expeditionary operations, EFSS is the primary close-in fire support system for vertical assault maneuvers and is perfectly suited for missions requiring tactical versatility, speed, mobility and close-in fire support. The system can be emplaced, fired and displaced in under five minutes using a standard five-man crew and is designed to be internally transportable in both the Marine's tiltrotor MV-22B Osprey and the CH-53 helicopter.

"Each battalion in the 10th Marine Regiment will have six EFSS systems comprising of a pair of Prime Mover vehicles, a 120mm M327 mortar weapon, ammunition family and trailer. At the center of EFSS is the 120mm M327 mortar that combines the simplicity and firepower of a mortar with the precision and range of a field artillery piece. The system can effectively fire both rifled and smoothbore ammunition. At 1,798 lbs., the 120mm M327 is the Marines' largest internally transportable indirect fire support system and provides the maneuver commander with greater fire support capability against an array of targets."

Second Lockheed Martin F-35B STOVL Fighter Achieves Successful First Flight

Second Lockheed Martin F-35B STOVL Fighter Achieves Successful First Flight:

"FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin's (NYSE: LMT) second short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B Lightning II accomplished its first flight on Wednesday, Feb. 25. The aircraft, known as BF-2, joins a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A and another STOVL F-35B that already have logged a combined total of 84 flights."

Lockheed Martin Receives Contracts Totaling $603 Million for GMLRS Rockets and HIMARS Launchers (via delicious)

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Lockheed Martin Receives Contracts Totaling $603 Million for GMLRS Rockets and HIMARS Launchers (via delicious)

delicious Lockheed Martin Receives Contracts Totaling $603 Million for GMLRS Rockets and HIMARS Launchers 13 hours ago - Comment - Like "DALLAS, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has received contracts totaling $603 million from the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), both combat proven and highly successful in the current Global War on Terror." - Ron Bailey