Lockheed Martin has completed the first integrated live-fire test of its Kodiak container launcher, firing a practice rocket from a system designed to look like a standard shipping container. The U.S. manufacturer says the containerized approach is meant to offer a low-cost, low-detectability way of delivering both offensive and defensive fires.
The trial used a Reduced Range Practice Rocket (RRPR), the training round that crews of HIMARS and MLRS launchers use to work with combat ammunition. Lockheed Martin said the goal of the test was to demonstrate that a launcher can be packed into a container without losing firepower or responsiveness.
From Grizzly to Kodiak
The firing followed a series of successful tests of the company’s Grizzly system by only a few months. Lockheed Martin is positioning Kodiak as an option for the U.S. Department of War that combines low operating costs with low visibility on the battlefield.
– Conducting a launch with live ammunition from the Kodiak container system in less than six months demonstrates the speed and flexibility our customers expect – said Randy Crites, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Advanced Programs.
– Meeting all mission requirements on the first attempt confirms our commitment to delivering ready-to-use solutions that keep pace with the changing battlefield – he added.
Up to 12 GMLRS rockets in one container
Each Kodiak container can hold as many as 12 GMLRS rockets, which gives the user scalable firepower in a compact footprint. According to Lockheed Martin, the launcher can be fitted to air, land or sea platforms, so the same basic container concept could be adapted to different operational environments.
Lockheed Martin points to a small footprint and scalable firepower as key advantages. The same container-based unit could be sized to fit different launch platforms, allowing commanders to choose a configuration that matches the mission.
The company argues that containerized launchers increase flexibility and combat effectiveness in any mission, while producing a smaller detection signature than conventional weapons. The Kodiak test adds another data point in its effort to show how quickly such systems can be matured and fielded.
Source: WNP.PL, Photo: Lockheed Martin / press materials
