Group : Loitering Weapons
Status : Cancelled
Also Known As : Loitering Attack Missile, NetFires, NLOS-LS
Origin : United States of America
Contractor : Lockheed Martin
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2008
Total Production : ?

The Loitering Attack Missile (LAM) is an expendable, loitering hunter-killer missile. It will search the battlefield for targets of opportunity relaying its location back to commanders who will determine to destroy the target by means of the LAM, a PAM missile or another asset. The LAM missile being developed by Lockheed-Martin and features a Laser Radar (LADAR) seeker with automatic target recognition and is powered by a micro-turbojet which makes possible to be loitering for 30 minutes at 70 kilometers from the launch location. It can be employed to locate targets or to attack them. In addition, a two-way data-link will provide re-targeting while in-flight and down linking of images reducing collateral damage probability. The program was cancelled.

On 22 March 2004, Netfires LLC (a Lockheed-Martin and Raytheon company) was a awarded a six-year $1.1 billion contract for NLOS-LS (Non Line-Of-Sight Launch System) SDD covering the LAM and PAM missiles, and the Container Launch Unit (CLU) design and development. On May 19, 2004, Lockheed-Martin selected Pike Country Operations facility in Troy, Alabama, for LAM manufacturing with a pilot production line starting in 2006. Production is expected to run through 2020.

On 28 June 2005, Lockheed-Martin selected Technical Directions Inc. (TDI) of Ortonville, Michigan, to be the propulsion system supplier for the LAM weapon. The TDI engine is compact, low-cost and easy to assemble. It was designed to use automotive turbocharger parts for the compressor and turbine wheels, with fuel used to lubricate and cool the bearings, eliminating the need for heavy lubricating oil. Moreover, the engines can be assembled in 15 minutes with the acceptance testing and packaging for shipment stays below 2 hours.