Low Cost Autonomous Attack System

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The Low Cost Autonomous Attack System (LOCAAS). In 1998 the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army Lockheed Martin began to examine the feasibility of a small, affordable cruise missile weapon for use against armoured and unarmoured vehicles, materiel and personnel, and if so develop a demonstration program^[1]. The program has cost approx. $150,000,000 so far; the cost per unit is calculated to be $30,000 based on a production of 12,000 units.

After being launched from a weapon platform, it is guided by GPS/INS to the target general area, where it can loiter. A laser radar (LIDAR or LADAR) illuminates the targets, determines their range, and matches their 3-D geometry with pre-loaded signatures. The LOCAAS system then selects the highest priority target and the the warhead's mode for the best effect.^[2]

It is part of the Small Bomb System (SBS) program.

Contents 1 Specifications 2 See also 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Specifications

• Weight: 100 lb
• Length: 36 in
• Speed: 200 knots
• Search altitude: 750 feet
• Footprint: 25 nm² (86 km²)
• Motor: 30-pound (130 N) thrust class turbojet.
• Range: >100 nm (190 km)
• Loiter time: 30 min max.
• Guidance: GPS/INS with LADAR terminal seeker
• Warhead: 7.7 kg (17 lb) multi-mode explosively formed projectile (long rod penetrator, aerostable slug or fragmentation)^[3]

[edit] See also

• Vertical Launch Autonomous Attack System (VLAAS)
• Surveilling Miniature Attack Cruise Missile

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Low Cost Autonomous Attack System - Defense Update