Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Fire Shadow

IOC: 2012

Origin
United Kingdom

Program Status:
Under Development

Contractor/s
Blue Bear Systems Research
Cranfield Aerospace
Lockheed Martin
Marshalls SV
MBDA *
Meggitt Defense Systems
QinetiQ

Description: The Fire Shadow is a low cost, all-weather, 24-hour available, loitering munition intended to meet the United Kingdom (UK) Armed Forces requirement for a weapon system capable of engaging elusive and time sensitive surface targets. This requirement is known in the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) as the IFPA (Indirect Fire Precision Attack) loitering munition system. Fire Shadow weapon system is being proposed by Team LM led by MBDA and comprises Blue Bear Systems Research, Cranfield Aerospace, Cranfield University, Lockheed Martin UK INSYS, Marshalls SV, Meggitt, QinetiQ, Roxel, Selex SAS, Thales UK, Ultra Electronics and VEGA. The IFPA loitering munition system assessment phase is due to commence in 2008 with the resulting weapon system achieving initial operational capability by 2012.

Fire Shadow could be launched over a battle zone, loiter for several hours and then rapidly strike a suitable target when it appears while still conforming to increasingly demanding rules of engagement. Man In The Loop (MITL) capability will ensure the weapon system remains under control of an operator on the ground after its release avoiding collateral damage. Besides, network-centric operations capability will mean that the Fire Shadow would be fed with target real-time imagery once it has been released from sources such as UK MoD Watchkeeper or planned ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) networks.

According to MBDA, Fire Shadow will be capable of loitering for 10 hours over operating ranges of 150 km and engaging targets with a sub-metric (less than one meter) Circular Error Probable (CEP). Team LM expects to keep the unitary cost of the Fire Shadow munition around the cost of a current guided rocket.

Specifications
Performance: CEP 1 m (3 ft), Endurance 10 hours, Max Range 150 km (81 nm)

News
Team LM Successfully Fires First Fire Shadow Loitering Weapon System

TEAM LM Launches Fire Shadow to Meet the UK MoD Loitering Munition Requirement

Image Gallery

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, November 22, 2008

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