The US Army has awarded Miltec a $2 million contract to begin research and development of a $100,000 weapon able to shoot down cruise missiles over a battlefield.

The Space and Missile Defense Command's Multi-Service Extended Range Low Cost Interceptor (MERLIN) programme will determine what technologies are needed for limited-capability interceptors of widely-proliferated, less-sophisticated cruise missile threats. MERLIN would be a lower-cost, lower-performance adjunct to the more sophisticated Patriot and Standard air defence missile systems.

Miltec, as the systems integrator, is under contract to conduct system engineering analysis of the technology-based programme. It will also conduct some component testing and undertake preliminary test planning. The nine-month phase will yield a preliminary design of the weapon. Miltec could earn up to $15 million for the research work. The US Congress added $7 million in the fiscal year 2001 defence budget to initiate the low-cost cruise missile interceptor development.

The US Army and the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will team to conduct a proof-of-principle concept flight test demonstration, to include cruise missile intercepts as soon as fiscal year 2003, if funding is made available. No requirement has been set for MERLIN, but it could be fielded late this decade.

Miltec is a small research firm based in Huntsville, Alabama, that designs and develops military systems. The contract requires it to evaluate missile technology from several missile and component manufacturers. The US Army will take advantage of advanced technologies, including low-cost seekers, being developed by DARPA.

They include a BAE Systems laser radar, a Raytheon micro-electromechanical system electronically-steered antenna, and a noise-radar seeker. Also being considered for MERLIN application is DARPA's Miniature Air-Launched Interceptor project, which evolved from the Northrop Grumman ADM-160A Miniature Air-Launched Decoy. Northrop Grumman envisions development of a Miniature Ground-Launched Interceptor.

Source: Flight International