DAGR Helo Rocket Excels in Latest Test: Lockheed
By kris osborn
Published: 8 Apr 22:34 EDT (18:34 GMT)
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The U.S. Army is monitoring the development of laser-guided, precision 2.75-inch Hydra rockets able to place 35-pound missiles within one meter of target from up to 12,000 meters away, service officials said April 8 at the Army Aviation Association of America Convention in National Harbor, Md.
Lockheed Martin is developing the DAGR semi-active laser-guided Hydra rocket as a contender for the Army requirement for a 2.75-inch precision rocket. (Lockheed Martin)
"I would love a precision-fire ability and there is a requirement for 2.75 but right now we don't have a funded program. Several manufacturers are doing development on precision rockets," said U.S. Army Col. Mark Hayes, capabilities manager, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).
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Lockheed Martin's DAGR semi-active laser-guided Hydra rocket is a key contender for the Army's requirement, which emerged out of combat experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, Army officials said. Helicopter pilots often seek to destroy small moving targets such as insurgents in a pickup truck while minimizing collateral damage and reducing risk of injury to civilians, Army officials said. Currently, the Army does not have a precision-guided rocket smaller than a Hellfire to fire from aircraft, Army and Lockheed officials said.
"Most of the technology is mature at this point, so there are a lot of things you can do on the end of a 2.75-inch rocket. It depends on what the technology readiness level is and what kind of money you want to commit to it," Hayes said.
Test-fired March 29 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., the DAGR 2.75-inch rocket hit targets at 2.5 and 3 kilometers within a meter of the laser-designated target, said John Morris, director of business development for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.
In development with Lockheed's own internal funding since 2006, the DAGR program has five more test firings this year before being more fully integrated into a yet-to-be announced platform.
"Any platform that fires Hellfire today could fire DAGR, including the Cobra, Apache, Little Bird, Black Hawk, the Predator UAV and the ERMP," said Randy Thomas, a business development manager with Lockheed. "It fires just like a Hellfire, but the difference is instead of delivering a very large warhead, you are doing to deliver a 10-pound smaller warhead and less collateral damage. DAGR is about taking that small warhead on the Hydra 70 and making it as precise as a Hellfire without having to change anything on the aircraft."
Link
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3470316&c=AIR&s=TOP
By kris osborn
Published: 8 Apr 22:34 EDT (18:34 GMT)
The U.S. Army is monitoring the development of laser-guided, precision 2.75-inch Hydra rockets able to place 35-pound missiles within one meter of target from up to 12,000 meters away, service officials said April 8 at the Army Aviation Association of America Convention in National Harbor, Md.
Lockheed Martin is developing the DAGR semi-active laser-guided Hydra rocket as a contender for the Army requirement for a 2.75-inch precision rocket. (Lockheed Martin)
"I would love a precision-fire ability and there is a requirement for 2.75 but right now we don't have a funded program. Several manufacturers are doing development on precision rockets," said U.S. Army Col. Mark Hayes, capabilities manager, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).
Related Topics
Lockheed Martin's DAGR semi-active laser-guided Hydra rocket is a key contender for the Army's requirement, which emerged out of combat experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, Army officials said. Helicopter pilots often seek to destroy small moving targets such as insurgents in a pickup truck while minimizing collateral damage and reducing risk of injury to civilians, Army officials said. Currently, the Army does not have a precision-guided rocket smaller than a Hellfire to fire from aircraft, Army and Lockheed officials said.
"Most of the technology is mature at this point, so there are a lot of things you can do on the end of a 2.75-inch rocket. It depends on what the technology readiness level is and what kind of money you want to commit to it," Hayes said.
Test-fired March 29 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., the DAGR 2.75-inch rocket hit targets at 2.5 and 3 kilometers within a meter of the laser-designated target, said John Morris, director of business development for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.
In development with Lockheed's own internal funding since 2006, the DAGR program has five more test firings this year before being more fully integrated into a yet-to-be announced platform.
"Any platform that fires Hellfire today could fire DAGR, including the Cobra, Apache, Little Bird, Black Hawk, the Predator UAV and the ERMP," said Randy Thomas, a business development manager with Lockheed. "It fires just like a Hellfire, but the difference is instead of delivering a very large warhead, you are doing to deliver a 10-pound smaller warhead and less collateral damage. DAGR is about taking that small warhead on the Hydra 70 and making it as precise as a Hellfire without having to change anything on the aircraft."
Link
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3470316&c=AIR&s=TOP
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