Scott Nicholas
Lockheed Martin has launched a tactical configuration of the company’s Long Range Anti-Ship Missile system from a U.S. Air Force bomber aircraft during a flight test over the Point Mugu Sea Range in California.
The company said Friday the configured LRASM missile used inputs from a multimodal sensor onboard the B-1B aircraft to maneuver through specific waypoints before the system engaged a moving maritime target.
“This was the first flight of a production representative, tactical configuration LRASM,” said Mike Fleming, LRASM director at Lockheed’s missiles and fire control business.
Fleming added the flight test sought to validate the LRASM’s capacity to locate and engage targets at sea.
LRASM is a precision-guided, anti-ship standoff missile based on the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range and designed to support Air Force and U.S. Navy tactical engagement missions such as offensive anti-surface warfare operations.
