A further development would see four powered
Locaas carried by a "mothership" designated Smacm (Surveilling Miniature Attack Cruise Missile).
The
LOCAAS, a loitering munition with a laser-radar seeker -- still in development -- will have a two-way data link in 2006, said Arias.
Powered by a 4.5-inch jet engine,
LOCAAS can be dropped in groups of up to 300 from planes at 50,000ft then glide over a battlefield for hours searching for prey.
As envisioned,
LOCAAS has a standoff range of more than 90 miles, a search area of 33 square miles, and a turbojet engine capable of powering the munition for 30 minutes.
The Powered
Locaas (known simply as
Locaas) weighed 45 kg, was 910 cm long, and was powered by a 0.13-kN turbine engine.
LOCAAS can be launched from F-16, F-22, Joint Strike Fighter, B-1 and B-2 aircraft.
Powered by an 11cm jet engine,
LOCAAS can be dropped in groups of up to 300 from planes at 18 metres then glide over a battlefield for hours searching for prey.
LOCAAS had its first successful flight in February.
* The Low Cost Autonomous Attack System, or
LOCAAS. This 85-pound munition--developed by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, of Dallas--can be dropped from a conventional fighter or bomber or fired from missile.
* Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control's (Orlando, FL) Low Cost Autonomous Attack System (
LOCAAS) demonstrated full air-vehicle flying qualities and guidance performance in a test Monday at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
Equipped with a tri-mode seeker and the
Locaas warhead, this would weigh about 63.5 kg and have a range of 465 km.
As it turns out, Lockheed has proposed that the Army upgrade the TACMS with a so-called universal dispenser that could be used to fire BATs or possibly other submunitions, such as the Lockheed-made
LOCAAS. The Low Cost Autonomous Attack System munition is capable of broad area search, identification, and destruction of mobile ground targets.