Long Range Land Attack Projectile Test Demonstrates 60 NM Guided Flight

Navy Newsstand ^ | 6/27/2005 8:30:00 PM | Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The DD(X) National Team and the Navy conducted the third consecutive successful guided-flight test of the 155mm Long Range Land Attack Projectile (LRLAP) June 16.

Preliminary results indicate the munition successfully conducted preplanned maneuvers along a 60 nautical mile flight path during the 280-second flight.

“This important test highlights another successful milestone to develop and field long-range, GPS-precise gun munitions for our fleet,” said Rear Adm. Charles Hamilton, the program executive officer for ships. “The success of LRLAP is vital to our efforts to deliver DD(X) to the fleet as planned. Each one of these shots brings us closer to that goal.”

“The DD(X) development team, both in the Navy and industry, continues to make major strides to demonstrate critical new capabilities such as LRLAP for DD(X),“ according to Capt. Charles Goddard, the DD(X) program manager. “Our rigorous development and test program is focused using prototype systems to fully evaluate and mature these technologies for DD(X) and other future ships.”

Guided Flight Test #4 (GF-04) is the fourth of seven guided-flight tests planned as part of the LRLAP engineering development model (EDM) program. GF-04 follows the successful projectile performance demonstrated in two other successful flights in January and February 2005. This most recent test, like the others, was conducted at the San Nicolas Island test facility located at Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, Pt. Mugu, Calif.

After launch, the LRLAP projectile successfully acquired Global Positioning System input and executed guided flight through a series of preplanned maneuvers. The GF-04 flight plan was developed to provide expanded aerodynamic performance data across many anticipated flight regimes. Detailed test data recorded during the flight will be analyzed as part of the development program.

The test projectile consisted of a full-length projectile airframe with base/tail assembly, a live rocket motor with a pressure-activated initiator, a telemetry unit housed in the warhead section, and a full guidance, navigation and control subsystem.

The test event was conducted by United Defense and Lockheed Martin under subcontract with Bath Iron Works and the DD(X) design agent Northrop Grumman Ships Systems.

DD(X), a multimission surface combatant tailored for land attack and littoral dominance, will provide independent forward presence and deterrence, and operate as an integral part of joint and combined expeditionary forces. DD(X)’s main battery of two 155mm Advanced Gun Systems and fully automated magazine of up to 920 Long Range Land Attack Projectiles will provide ground forces with lethal and responsive all-weather firepower. In addition, the DD(X) program will provide a baseline for spiral development of technology and engineering to support a range of future surface ships, including the next-generation air-defense cruiser CG(X), the CVN 21 aircraft carrier and amphibious ships.

The Navy awarded the DD(X) Phase III Design Agent contract to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) April 29, 2002. As the DD(X) Design Agent, NGSS is executing the design, development, and testing of 10 Engineering Development Models (EDMs), and maturing the DD(X) system design culminating in the Critical Design Review (CDR) in July 2005.

For related news, visit the Naval Sea Systems Command Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/navsea/.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Eat this, Ahkmed.

[Last Dakotan]

Preliminary results indicate the munition successfully conducted preplanned maneuvers along a 60 nautical mile flight path during the 280-second flight.

The flight test data along with the munitions plans that arrived this afternoon in Beijing said it was 282 seconds.

[null and void]

ping

[Marine_Uncle]

Great post. Sounds like these babies may sink some Chicom destroyer in a few years. But on the down side, I sure had a wake up call, based on some articles Paul Atradies offered last week on how by all indications we are totally neglecting the need to stay superior in all classes of submarines. It was most disturbing readings. But this is good news.

[68skylark]

Lemme get this straight -- we've now got a 155mm artillery projectile that can hit targets out to 60 nautical miles. Do I have that right?

[NordP]

EXCELLENT POST - (I'm still smiling minutes after reading it, too!) GREAT.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

That's how I read it. The article did say it was a gun munition. If anybody can offer further insight, I'll take it.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

“This important test highlights another successful milestone to develop and field long-range, GPS-precise gun munitions for our fleet,” said Rear Adm. Charles Hamilton.

I love it!!

[mmercier]

Great post.

There is always something new under this sun, at least as far as the Pentagon is concerned.

A concept I never would have considered.

[Lokibob]

I read it that the navy is developing the projo, but with it being a 155 shell, I don't know why it wouldnt apply to the FA.

[68skylark]

I have no idea what technology goes into this shell -- wish I knew more. It sounds more like a small cruise missile than an artillery projectile. The longest-range artillery shells I've ever heard of only go about 40,000 meters (25 miles or so).

[GSlob]

Hmm... but wouldn't a small conventional 155mm warhead be too small for $$$ guided missile? Tomahawks after all deliver something like half a ton, and frequently that's barely enough.

[Valin]

Preliminary results indicate the munition successfully conducted preplanned maneuvers along a 60 nautical mile flight path during the 280-second flight.

Gives a whole new meaning to "reach out and thouching someone".

[Army Air Corps]

"DD(X)’s main battery of two 155mm Advanced Gun Systems and fully automated magazine of up to 920 Long Range Land Attack Projectiles "

Great gooely moogely! That is some serious firepower. Couple that with the VLS batteries and this ship is one helluva weapons platform.

[Army Air Corps]

The focus is on support of land operations. Imagine beting in a ChiCom tank in the crosshairs of this thing.

[ProudVet77]

Calm down folks. This has been under development for years. These rounds can be put in any 155MM gun we have which both the Army and Marines have. It is GPS guided and costs about 15K/round. Which for short barrages is fine.
This is not a good Naval weapon. It has no ability to update target coordinates in flight like our missiles. So a ship can simply change course and shell is a waste. And yes, we and they can see a 155MM in mid-air by radar.
This is a last gasp for naval arty. A UAV with a SDB can put a round down the stack of any ship for 1/10th the cost.
Why am I complaining so much? It's part of the whole DD(X) which is anachronistic by nature. The Marines want naval gunfire support. Great. But they buy the Osprey V-22 which can get them further inland than any gun we can build. See the slight problem.
Buy more UAVs. They can travel 500 miles and drop bombs right on the dot where the marines want them at a lot less $$.

[chariotdriver]

As I read it its much more than that. Its a cannon launched-accelrated rocket projectile thats 155mm in diameter.

Great stuff, we are going to need it SOON.

[fso301]

The longest-range artillery shells I've ever heard of only go about 40,000 meters (25 miles or so).

There's a special munition for the naval 16" gun that reportedly has a range in excess of 100 miles.

In WWI, the Germans shelled Paris from 75 miles away.

[PAR35]

Sounds like these babies may sink some Chicom destroyer in a few years.

Long Range Land Attack Projectile

They are designed for shore bombardment, not anti-ship.

[Tangerine Time Machine]

Lemme get this straight -- we've now got a 155mm artillery projectile that can hit targets out to 60 nautical miles. Do I have that right?

---

Yep. It's a smart projectile, a missile that fires like a shell (the first one since the Army's Copperhead in the 70s). Not easy to design. The stress the electronics undergo in the first second of flight are HUGE. Building a projectile that can survive launch took a lot of work. Its Copperhead experience really helped Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control bag the win.

The Navy was torn between two camps: stick with the dumb shells and satuate bomb the hell out of the target area, or go with the far more expensive smart projectile that could be steered right through the window. The latter camp won out.

Alas for Mamoud and Ling Tao.