07.12.

2016

MGM166LOSATKineticEnergyMissiles(KEM)

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Home::Military ::Systems::Munitions ::Missiles ::

MILITARY
FurtherReading
LOSATLineofSightAntitank

MGM166LOSA TKineticEnergyMissiles
(KEM)

KEMLOSATKineticEnergyMissile
CKEMCompactKineticEnergyMissile
HTAMHypervelocityAntiT
ankMissile
LOSATReferences

LineofSight Antitank (LOSAT) Weapon System consists of

Kinetic Energy Missiles (KEM) and a secondgeneration
FLIR/videoacquisition sensormountedonanairmobile,heavyHMMWV chassis. LOSATis mountedonamodified
HMMWV vehicleandis accompaniedby awheeledresupplyvehicle.Thesystem is fullytransportableby C17,C
130,C141andC5aircraft,aswellastheCH47helicopterandcanbeslingloadedundertheUH60Lhelicopter.
TheLine ofSight Antitank is a dedicated antitank weaponsystem capableofprovidinga highvolumeofaccurate
fires at rangesexceeding those ofcurrent tank main guns. TheLOSATWeaponSystem consists ofan encased
missile, missile shipping and storage containers, Fire Unit, support structure, reload system, ElectroOptical
System (EOS), TargetAcquisition System (TAS), FireControlSystem (FCS)andPulsed LaserSystem (PLS).The
LOSATwillbemountedonanarmamentcarrier,HMMWV (M1113),willhaveathreemancrew,andcarryfourready
to fireKinetic Energy Missiles (KEM). TheKEM, a long rodtungsten penetrator, accelerates up to 5000feet per
secondandhasfivetimesthekineticenergyofcurrenttankrounds. Timeofflighttomaximumrangeislessthanfive
seconds.
TheFireControlsystem (FCS)allowsthegunnertoacquireandtrack uptotwotargetssimultaneously andengage
them in rapid sequential fires. Once the gunner issues launch consent, the system automatically guides the
missiles tothetarget.Thegunneris assisted by theFCS, whichtracks themissile to thetarget. TheLOSATalso
featurescontrols and displays along with digital communications compatible with the Force XXIBattle Command
BrigadeandBelow(FBCB2)System. TheLOSATcan operateautonomously oronconjunction withothersystems
throughFBCB2orFMcommunications.
TheLOSATWeaponSystem providesthegunnerthecapability torecognizeatargetbeyondthemaximum effective
rangeofthecurrentTOW missiles, andwillincorporatethefollowingcapabilities: embeddedbuiltintest/built intest
equipment,automaticboresight,selfdefenseweapons,androomforgrowth.
Themissile accelerates to5000feetpersecond, fliestomaximum rangeinless thanfourseconds anddeliversfive
times thekinetic energyofcurrenttankrounds. Thefirecontrolsystem allowsthegunner/commandertoacquireand
autotrackuptothreetargets. Oncealaunchconsentis issued, thesystem automatically initializes andguidesthe
missilestothetargetsinasequentialmanner .RangeoftheLOSATmissileisabout5km.
TheKinetic EnergyMissile weighs174pounds,is 113inches longand6.4inches indiameter. Thecurrentsystem
providesforathreemancrew,butacrewoftwocanalsoconductengagements.With amissile speedof5,000feet
persecond, it reachesmaximum rangeinless thanfiveseconds. TheLOSATmissile isahittokill missile withno
explosivewarhead.Itcarriesalongrodpenetratoranddestroysthetargetthroughtheapplicationofbruteforce.
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Thekey advantagesofthe LOSATarethe tremendousovermatchlethality ofthe KEM, whichdefeatsall predicted

futurearmoredcombatvehicles,andits deployability.Thesystem canbereloadedinless than10minutesusingon
boardmaterielhandlingequipment.
TheKEM, whichcantraveluptoabout5,000feetpersecond, reliesonits impact forceratherthanawarheadto
destroy its target. A ForwardLookingInfrared acquisition sensor on the vehicleis used to guide the KEM to the
target. The system utilizes a Heavy High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) heavy chassis,
hypervelocity kinetic energy missiles (KEM), a second generation forwardlookinginfrared (FLIR/TV) acquisition
sensorandhasacrewoftwo.TheLOSATsystem consists ofaHumveearmedwithfourreadytofiremissiles, with
eight missi les towedbehindin a resupply trailer. TheLOSATSystem carries fourreadymissiles viatwo twopack
containers. LOSAT can operate autonomously or with other systems using its digitized Command and Control
capability.
The Army will mount LOSAT on a High Mobility MultiPurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) chassis, as a
supplemental antiarmorcapability forlight divisionsequippedwith tubelaunchopticallycontrolled wireguidedand
Javelinantitank systems. The basic organizational unit for LOSAT will be a fivemansquad equipped with two
HMMWVs anda highmobility missile resupply trailer. OneHMMWV, called the FireUnit (FU),will bethe LOSAT
missile launch vehicleandwill carry fourreadytofiremissiles. Thefirecontrol system in the FU is based on the
ImprovedBradley Acquisition System, which features an acquisition system using a secondgenerationforward
lookinginfraredsensorandadaylight TV. TheresupplyHMMWV willtowtheresupplytrailer, whichwillcarry eight
additionalmissiles. Thesystem willbedeployablebystrategic andtactical airlift(C5,C17,C130)andexternalair
transport(viaUH60LandCH47helicopters).
TheLOSAT programstarted an Army ACAT I system with oversightby DOT&E. In 1992, analysis by the Army
caused theprogramtobereducedto aTechnologyDemonstration.Theprogramwasupgradedby the JROCto an
Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) (4QFY97). Initially, LOSAT was to be mounted on an
extendedlengthBradleyFightingVehicle.As aTechnologyDemonstrationitwastobemountedonanArmoredGun
System (AGS)chassis butwhentheAGS programwascanceled,LOSATwasreconfiguredtoaHMMWV chassis.
Developmentaltesting hasbeenconductedusingthefirecontrolsystem todirectthekinetic energymissile attank
targets.
Testing at White Sands Missile Range,NM examined the launch effects ofthe LOSATon an expandedcapacity
HMMWV.Underdevelopmentaltest conditions, themissile is capableofdefeatinganyknowntankithits. Testfiring
oftheLOSATmissile inanontactical configurationontopofaHMMWV hasshownalllauncheffects to fallwithin
the Army's acceptable rangesforhumanfactorlimits. Datagatheredwereextensivebothinside andoutside ofthe
vehicle.Measurements weremadeofshock andgload,oncrash test dummies, andflash, toxic gases, pressure,
andsoundinandoutsidethevehicle.Numerousoperationalperformanceissues must beaddressedinfuturetesting
eitherwithintheACTDorinsubsequentformalOT&EcoveredbyaTEMP.
In August 2002 Lockheed Martin receiveda contract for the first production lot of tactical LineofSightAntitank
(LOSAT)WeaponSystem missiles. The$9.3 million contract represents the first production run ofthe extremely
powerfulKinetic Energy Missile (KEM), which is firedfromthe LOSATvehicle.Lockheed Martin Missiles andFire
ControlistheprimecontractorontheLOSATprogram.TheU.S.ArmyAviation&MissileCommand,Huntsville,Ala.,
is thecontracting agency. Deliveryofthemissiles willbecompletedby July2004.These108missiles willbeused
toequipthefirsttacticalLOSA Tunit,ACompanyofthe511thParachuteInfantryRegiment.
AccordingtotheFY03DOT&Ereport,thekineticenergymissileislethalwhenithitsitsintendedtarget.Livemissile
firingsin DT established the missile's ability to hit anddestroy a reinforcedurbanstructure anda movingtank at
relatively close range offangle.Test firings against more challenging targets (e.g., evasivelymovingand multiple
targets)andundermoredemandingconditions(e.g.,extremeenvironmentsandcountermeasures)remain.
TheDOT&Ealsostaesthatthesurvivabilityoftheoverallsystem is anissue. TheProgramManagerchosetotrade
someballistic protectionforenhanceddeployability(toensurethattheLOSATsystem remainsslingloadablefroma
UH60Lhelicopter).TheLFT&Eprogramwillassess thedegreetowhichtheLOSATsystem, includingthemissile,
bothHMMWV vehicles,andtheloadedtrailer, is vulnerabletotheexpectedthreats. Thisprogramdescribes critical
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vulnerabilityandlethality issues andthescopeoftesting neededtoaddressthem, includingtheneedformorethan

oneFUforfullup,systemlevelLFT&Etosupporttheplannedfullrateproductiondecision.

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