Mlrs/atacms function

The ATACMS ballistic missile was employed for the first time in 1991 during the Gulf War military campaign in Kuwait and Iraq. The US Army has great confidence in the TACMS family of tactical missiles which provide long range, precision attack against a wide range of targets.

The ATACMS Block I carries 950 M74 anti-personnel/anti-materiel submunitions and has an estimated range of 165 km. Block I guidance system consists of a ring laser gyro.

The ATACMS ballistic missile was employed for the first time in 1991 during the Gulf War military campaign in Kuwait and Iraq. The US Army has great confidence in the TACMS family of tactical missiles which provide long range, precision attack against a wide range of targets.

The ATACMS Block IA is an extended range and reduced payload variant of the combat proven ATACMS missile. The Block IA has range in excess of 290 km and carries 300 M74 anti-personnel/anti-materiel submunitions. Additionally, the ring laser gyro guidance system of baseline ATACMS has been replaced by a combination of GPS/INS. The new GPS/INS based guidance system achieves better accuracy than its predecessor.

The ATACMS ballistic missile was employed for the first time in 1991 during the Gulf War military campaign in Kuwait and Iraq. Block IA Unitary missile was combat proven during operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. The US Army has great confidence in the TACMS family of tactical missiles which provide long range, precision attack against a wide range of targets.

The ATACMS Block IA Unitary is a derivative of the ATACMS Block IA tactical ballistic missile. The Unitary Block IA retains the guidance system and the maximum range of the Block IA but replaces the M74 submunitions by a 500-pound unitary warhead. This warhead reduces collateral damage likelihood while makes possible to attack hardened targets such as fortifications and bunkers deep inside enemy territory out to 300 kilometers.

In October 2004, the ATACMS Block IA Unitary began a flight test demonstration with a new guidance and control package and new flight software at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. Two tests were scheduled to demonstrate the new guidance system, the second test was expected in the fourth quarter 2004. The improved guidance system incorporating an improved GPS will allow a vertical impact trajectory and improved accuracy to precisely engage targets.

The Block IA Unitary missile equipped with an improved guidance system will be capable of flying over obstacles, such as mountainous terrain and buildings, and then dive vertically to better engage its intended target. The angled descent feature is specially well suited to perform engagements in urban environments. The new guidance package will be available beginning in early 2005. As of October 2004, the US Army had received more than 80 such missiles with approximately 200 missiles more on order.

Lockheed-Martin received a $45 million contract for production of ATACMS Block IA Unitary missiles for the US Army on February 7, 2005. These missiles were the first equipped with new guidance, control and fuze systems. Delivery was scheduled for 2006. This weapon saw combat during Iraqi Freedom. The US Army also made public it was pursuing a new multi-mode warhead with three fuze options for the ATACMS with the development phase beginning in fiscal year 2006.

Lockheed-Martin released on February 17, 2005, that the BROACH multi-stage blast/fragmentation and penetration warhead integrated into an ATACMS missile was sled tested at Pendine, Wales, UK, in February. This test was conducted to validate BROACH as a candidate payload for ATACMS Block IA Unitary missile. The test program was funded by the US Army, Lockheed-Martin and BAE Systems.

On 13 April, 2005, Lockheed-Martin successfully tested for the second time ATACMS Block IA Unitary with an upgraded guidance and control system and new flight software at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. This test validated the new upgraded components and software for 2005 production line of ATACMS Block IA Unitary.

The ATACMS ballistic missile was employed for the first time in 1991 during the Gulf War military campaign in Kuwait and Iraq. The US Army has great confidence in the TACMS family of tactical missiles which provide long range, precision attack against a wide range of targets.

The ATACMS Block II retains the Block I guidance system but features reduced range and an entirely new payload. Block II payload consists of 13 BAT submunitions, or even the improved model BAT P3I, designed to destroy moving and stationary armored targets.

The ATACMS ballistic missile was employed for the first time in 1991 during the Gulf War military campaign in Kuwait and Iraq. The US Army has great confidence in the TACMS family of tactical missiles which provide long range, precision attack against a wide range of targets.

The ATACMS-P (Penetrator) is an special derivative of the ATACMS missile. It will integrate an ATACMS booster with a Navy reentry vehicle resulting in an improved capability to destroy hard and deeply-buried targets. The ATACMS-P or TACMS-P will be fully compatible with M270 artillery system and will have an effective range of 220 km.

The M26 rocket is the main ammunition of the M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System). Both were combat proven successfully in 1991, during the operation Desert Storm. The M28 is a training rocket designed to simulate the M26 rocket firing. The M26 rocket has been fielded in 14 countries around the world.

Each M26 rocket carries up to dual purpose 644 M77 DPICM submunitions detonated by impact at a maximum range of 32 km. Employing the M77 submunitions a M26 rocket can cover an area of 0.23 square kilometers.

The M26 rocket is the main ammunition of the M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System). Both were combat proven successfully in 1991, during the operation Desert Storm. The M28 is a training rocket designed to simulate the M26 rocket firing. The M26 rocket has been fielded in 14 countries around the world.