NetFires System Development and Demonstration Cleared

Released on Monday, March 22, 2004

The NetFires LLC, a limited liability company established by Lockheed-Martin and Raytheon, has been awarded a $1.1 billion contract for System Development and Demonstration for the Non Line-of-Sight Launch System (NLOS-LS), previously known as the NetFires.

The NLOS-LS is a family of artillery missiles fired from a vertical launcher that can be deployed by ground platforms throughout the operations theater to quickly engage an enemy.

The US Department of Defense (DoD) contract will cover design and development of the Loitering Attack Missile (LAM), the Precision Attack Missile (PAM), and the autonomous Container Launch Unit (CLU) for a six-year period. LAM and PAM missiles will benefit from common components and equipment use resulting in lower development, production, and maintenance costs.

The LAM missiles will search wide areas for potential targets and relay its location back to US Army commanders, who can then direct PAM missiles, the LAM itself or other assets to the desired target. The NLOS-LS will be deployed by the US Army Future Combat Systems Units.

The Lockheed-Martin Corporation is in charge of the LAM development and Raytheon will be responsible for the PAM missile. The NLOS-LS CLU is intended for integration on a wide range of ground platforms with the FCS vehicles as the primary target.