Article Posted on : - Jun 08, 2012

Lockheed Martin EAPS performing controlled flight test. Photo: Lockheed Martin.

WASHINGTON (BNS): Lockheed Martin's Extended Area Protection and Survivability Integrated Demonstration (EAPS ID) programme successfully conducted a Controlled Test Vehicle flight test on May 26 at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

The test was conducted in collaboration with the US Army Research Development & Engineering Command/Aviation Missile Research Development & Engineering Center (RDECOM/AMRDEC), according to a news report by Lockheed Martin.

The Lockheed Martin EAPS solution uses a Miniature Hit-to-Kill (MHTK) interceptor that defeats Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (RAM) targets at ranges greatly exceeding those of current systems.

During the flight test, the tactically configured MHTK interceptor was launched vertically and then conducted a series of manoeuvres to demonstrate required performance while capturing data. The data collected will support guided flight tests, against live RAM targets, beginning in the second half of 2012.

"This successful test further demonstrates the capabilities of our revolutionary Miniature Hit-to-Kill missile," Mike Trotsky, vice president of air and missile defense programs at Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control business, was quoted as saying in the repot.

The Lockheed Martin EAPS round is an extremely agile, small hit-to-kill interceptor that weighs approximately 3 kilograms. It is less than 50 millimeters in diameter and less than 1 meter long.