ATK has announced a $3.2 million contract to provide a precision guided rocket for evaluation by US Special Operation Command (USSOCOM).
Awarded through the Defence Acquisition Challenge (DAC) programme, the new project supports a USSOCOM requirement ATK aims to fulfil with its Guided Advanced Tactical Rocket (GATR) and Precision Guided Rocket Launcher (PGRL), the company said in a statement.
‘Our on-going investment and expertise in precision strike weapons, including the GATR system, provide a mature capability that fulfils the requirements of our military customers,’ said Dan Olson, General Manager for ATK Armament Systems.
The DAC project calls for validation of desired operational and ballistic performance of ATK’s GATR and PGRL digital smart launcher while deployed from USSOCOM airborne platforms.
Operational evaluation and environment testing will be carried out on the weapon systems on MH-60L/M helicopters.
The GATR rocket incorporates the same semi-active laser seeker used in the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) weapon, providing a robust seeker field of view.
In addition, the guided rocket employs a digitally-fuzed M282 multi-purpose penetrating warhead that is programmed from the cockpit to provide point detonating fuzing to defeat soft targets, or delayed fuzing to penetrate hardened targets.
Providing a tactical employment envelope up to 50% greater than currently fielded laser-guided rockets, according to ATK, GATR also features optimized terminal performance against hardened stationary and moving targets.
Fired from ATK’s PGRL digital launcher, the GATR is available in three, seven and 19 tube variants, and is compatible with legacy unguided Hydra rockets.
The PGRL can be integrated into air platforms using existing digital and analogue fire control systems, and can provide digital stores management for all loaded weapons.