LOCKHEED MARTIN ADVANCES JOINT FIRES CONCEPT WITH CAPTIVE CARRY TEST

During a recent captive carry test, the company’s Remote Interceptor Guidance – 360 (RIG-360) uplinker prototype provided target updates to a data link being evaluated for experimental use on MLRS Family of Munitions (MFOM). The data link was flown inside of an aircraft replicating the rocket’s surface-to-surface trajectory.

Integrating the MFOM and RIG-360 would enable long-range precision fires to receive in-flight target updates to accurately engage relocated or mobile targets. The RIG-360 prototype is an internally funded development activity to demonstrate future and evolving art-of-the-possible capabilities.

A Joint Fires flight test is planned for 2024 to validate in-flight target update capabilities.

The uplink capability demonstrated in this test is based on the RIG-360’s ability to provide 360-degree in-flight communications capabilities for Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense. Lockheed Martin is currently under an engineering manufacturing and development (EMD) contract to mature this concept into a tactical capability that includes an effort to design, build, test, and field RIG-360 for Army IAMD. Once fielded, the capability will augment missile performance by expanding the Army’s area of control and supporting best sensor best shooter capabilities within the Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) architecture.