Lockheed Martin has completed the first integrated live-fire test of its Kodiak™ containerized launcher. The company says the system can fire rockets from a container while keeping operating costs and detectability low.
The test used a Reduced Range Practice Rocket (RRPR), a training projectile used by HIMARS and MLRS crews for exercises with live ammunition.
According to Lockheed Martin, the firing came just a few months after a series of successful Grizzly tests. By demonstrating containerized offensive and defensive fire, the manufacturer wants to offer the U.S. Department of War weapons with low operating costs and low detectability.
The company argues that container launchers improve flexibility and combat effectiveness in every mission. The Kodiak system is designed to be a compact, scalable source of firepower that can be deployed on air, land, or maritime platforms.
Up to 12 rockets per container
Each Kodiak container can carry up to 12 GMLRS rockets, giving users scalable firepower in a small footprint. Lockheed Martin says this makes it possible to place significant firepower on a wide range of platforms without increasing the launcher’s size.
– Conducting a live-fire shot from the Kodiak container system in less than six months shows the speed and flexibility our clients expect – said Randy Crites, Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Advanced Programs.
The company said the test met all mission requirements on the first attempt, pointing to that as proof that Kodiak is ready for use.
Designed to keep pace with the battlefield
– Meeting all mission requirements on the first attempt confirms our commitment to delivering ready-to-use solutions that keep pace with the changing battlefield – added Crites.
The successful firing is part of Lockheed Martin’s broader effort to expand container-based missile firepower. The manufacturer believes such launchers give commanders more flexible fire support in a compact form.
Lockheed Martin stressed that the live firing took less than six months to achieve, which it sees as evidence that the system can be fielded quickly. The company says this speed matters because customers need solutions that can adapt to evolving battlefield situations.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Lockheed Martin
