Low Cost Autonomous Attack System
The Low Cost Autonomous Attack System was a loitering attack munition developed for the United States Air Force. In 1998 the USAF 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. The program cost approximately $150,000,000; the cost per unit was calculated to be $30,000 based on a production of 12,000 units before cancellation.
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 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 selects the warhead's mode for the best effect.
The LOCAAS program was cancelled.
Specifications
- Weight:
- Length:
- Speed:
- Search altitude:
- Footprint:
- Motor: thrust class turbojet.
- Range: >
- Loiter time: 30 min max.
- Guidance: GPS/INS with LADAR terminal seeker
- Warhead: 7.7 kg multi-mode explosively formed projectile