The US Navy is considering conducting a risk reduction flight test programme involving the launch of the Israel Military Industries (IMI) Light Defender, stand-off loitering weapon system from a Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk helicopter. The SH-60 is currently armed with the Penguin air-to-surface missile.
IMI last December completed a $300,000 feasibility study to determine how the Light Defender weapon would be integrated on the Seahawk helicopter. The USN-funded study has also evaluated the costs associated with conducting a flight test programme.
Lockheed Martin and IMI are now exploring whether there is a US military market for the Light Defender, beyond rotorcraft applications. They believe the relationship might one day involve joint development and production. At this point, however, no fixed-wing applications are being considered for the air-launched cruise missile. Aircraft such as the USAF's Fairchild A-10s and the McDonnell Douglas F-4s, operated outside the USA, are potential applications.
The Light Defender is not planned to replace the more expensive Penguin missile, but to be used against softer targets.
The Light Defender deal between IMI and the US firm results from Lockheed Martin's significant offset commitments to Israeli defence companies, related to the sale of F-16 fighters, and the US firm's collaboration with Rafael on the AGM-142 and Python 4 missiles. IMI needs Lockheed Martin's financial backing to complete development of Light Defender.
The Light Defender, also known as the Star-1, is understood to be a warhead-equipped development of the Delilah manoeuvring decoy, which is 2.7m (8.85ft) long and has a 1.15m wingspan. Flying at Mach 0.8, it has a 400km (220nm) range and weighs about 180kg. US officials say Light Defender would be fitted with a 21kg (46lb) warhead.
Source: Flight International
