Lockheed Martin yesterday conducted a successful ground-launched medium-range guided test vehicle (GTV) flight of the "HELLFIRE(R) Junior" missile it is offering for the U.S. government's Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) II requirement.

"The successful GTV flight is a major milestone for APKWS II," said Rick Edwards, vice president - Tactical Missiles at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "Our previous successful ballistic test vehicle flights and the many tests that led up to these were all important, but here, we were trying to hit a target for the first time and we did it. The pre-contract investment in risk-reduction testing by us and our industry teammates continues to pay off."

Lockheed Martin's suppliers include two companies whose components were critical to the GTV success: HR Textron, Santa Clarita, CA , which provides the control actuation system (CAS); and Honeywell, Minneapolis, MN , which provides the inertial sensor assembly (ISA).

The test was conducted on the C-72 test range at Eglin AFB, FL. The established objectives for the GTV flight were to demonstrate safe launch and separation characteristics, stable flight and performance of the seeker de- roll bearing assembly and the semi-active laser guidance.

"The rocket hit the target board 2.8 kilometers downrange and the impact was less than half a meter from the laser spot designation," said Steve Barnoske, director - Tactical Missiles at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "According to the flight telemetry and range tracking data, we met all the objectives. This means that 'HELLFIRE(R) Junior' is on track to provide precision strike in a low-cost, smaller, yet lethal package."

The APKWS II is a 2.75-inch laser-guided rocket that will provide crews of the U.S. Army Apache and Marine Corps Cobra attack helicopters and other platforms with precision-strike capability against targets that do not require a 7-inch HELLFIRE missile -- an option not presently available. This low-cost alternative will destroy non-armored targets that are close to civilian assets and/or friendly forces.

Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 90,000 laser-guided munitions to the warfighter, and in total has produced more than 135,000 laser-guided systems, including HELLFIRE, Copperhead, Paveway II Laser Guided Bombs and Laser Guided Training Rounds. Lockheed Martin has over 30 years of experience and investment in precision Semi-Active Laser technology.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin