USA: LRLAP Proves Its Functionality

Program Executive Office, Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) successfully completed nine guided flight tests for the Long Range Land Attack Projectile (LRLAP), NAVSEA announced Sept. 26.

All nine tests accurately guided to their targets approximately 45 nautical miles from the launch site. LRLAP functionality was proven through gun launch, rocket motor ignition, guidance acquisition, navigation to target and warhead detonation.

“We completed the program’s LFTE data collection, an important step in completing the development,” said Capt. Mike Ladner, Navy Surface Ship Weapons, major program manager, PEO IWS. “Additionally, flying the tactical software was a major step in reducing the remaining technical risk in the program.”

In addition to functional performance, the tests satisfied several significant program objectives including live fire test and evaluation (LFTE) requirements. LFTE assesses the lethality of the system and is a coordinated test program between the Zumwalt class destroyer and the Surface Ship Weapons Program Offices with the Office of Secretary of Defense oversight. This marks completion of a significant effort for the LRLAP developmental testing.

The tests also provided a first-time demonstration of the tactical software, which includes a multiple round simultaneous impact (MRSI) capability. A MRSI capability allows the ship to fire several rounds and adjusts the projectile trajectory to synchronize time of arrival at the targets. Additionally, tests also demonstrated the strength of the round to life cycle stresses and stimuli including temperature, vibration, and humidity.

“There have been fourteen consecutive test successes since January,” said Ladner. “We’ve now successfully demonstrated almost every first time event possible from a land-based platform.”

LRLAP is a 155mm rocket-assisted guided projectile designed to support land-attack and naval surface fire support operations in conjunction with the Advanced Gun System (AGS) on DDG 1000 class destroyers. Live-fire testing is part of land-based flight qualification during the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase. The program is completing the final stages of the EMD phase and has moved forward into the transition to production activities.

PEO IWS is an affiliated Program Executive Office of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), which manages surface ship and submarine combat technologies and systems, and coordinates Navy Open Architecture across ship platforms.

[mappress]
Press Release, September 27, 2013