The US Army is launching a Compact Kinetic Energy Missile (CKEM) technology demonstration programme that could provide the US military with the next-generation hypervelocity missile that can be fired from helicopters and armoured vehicles.
The CKEM would be smaller, lighter and faster than the Line of Sight Anti-Tank (LOSAT) project, which Lockheed Martin Vought Systems is developing.
It was intended to shrink the round from LOSAT's 2.7m (8.8ft) to 1.8m, but the Army now wants a 1.2m weapon with its velocity increased to 452,760ft/min (2,300m/s) from 433,070ft/min to improve target-penetration performance. Other goals include a maximum weight of 23kg (51lb), and a 5km (2.7nm) range with growth potential to 8km.
The US Army says that a more efficient, high-performance rocket motor will have to be developed to achieve the increased velocity.
For the technology demonstration, millimetre wave and inertial guidance will be used during the boost phase, while terminal guidance will be provided by a line-of-sight laser. A fire-and-forget missile could evolve from the demonstration programme.
The CEKM demonstration programme will run in fiscal years 2000-5 in two phases. In the first stage - running until FY04 - concept studies, system design and component development will take place. The US Army expects to award multiple contracts during this phase.
One or more of the contractors may then be selected in a further competition for an 18-24 month CKEM system development and demonstration stage, during which the weapon development will be completed and flight tested against an array of armoured targets. If the CKEM demonstration is successful, an engineering and manufacturing development phase will begin in around 2007.
Source: Flight International