BAE SYSTEMS Fires Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact Missions from NLOS-Cannon

Business Wire, Oct 11, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS -- BAE Systems has successfully fired a four-round Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) mission from the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon (NLOS-C) Concept Technology Demonstrator (CTD).

The NLOS-C is one of eight Manned Ground Vehicles in the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems program, and leads the others in its current state of development. The firing achievement was reached in late August 2005 at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz.

The NLOS-C CTD, which features a fully-automated Zone 4, 38-caliber, 155-mm howitzer, fired six four-round MRSI (pronounced "mercy") missions. During each mission, all rounds impacted within four seconds of each other. The missions were fired at Zones 2 and 3 using a combination of M231 and M232 Modular Artillery Charge System (MACS) propellants.

This firing mission is the first time a U.S. howitzer fired a MRSI mission using more than one type of standard MACS propellant. The ability to fire multiple types of MACS propellant increases the number of the howitzer's firing ranges between the gun's minimum and maximum ranges, giving soldiers more mission flexibility on the battlefield.

"The Army is pleased to see the development of the NLOS-C rapidly progressing," said Lt. Col. James Day, U.S. Army product manager for NLOS-C. "NLOS-C's ability to fire MRSI missions will enable us to deliver more firepower with greater effects faster and more accurately than ever before. And, we'll be able to do it with fewer soldiers and fewer systems."

The MRSI mission demonstrations were conducted to prove the viability of the architecture and functionality of fire mission equipment software for the NLOS-C Increment 0 prototypes. While program engineers were not originally planning to demonstrate MRSI missions using the NLOS-C CTD, they felt the system's software was robust enough to attempt an early demonstration. As a result, they have successfully demonstrated a capability that wasn't expected to be proven until late 2006, when hardware tests would begin on the NLOS-C Firing Platform.

"These successful MRSI missions demonstrate the advancement, strength and versatility of the NLOS-C's software and automated ammunition and fire control system," said Jim Unterseher, director of Army Programs at BAE Systems. "Achieving this capability ahead of schedule shows soldiers they are another step closer to having NLOS-C's unprecedented firepower at their disposal."

BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery and support of advanced defense and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. The company designs, manufactures, and supports military aircraft, combat vehicles, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, and guided weapon systems.