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MGM-166 LOSAT
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The MGM-166 LOSAT (Line-of-Sight Anti-Tank) was a United States anti-tank missile system designed by Lockheed Martin (originally Vought) to defeat tanks and other individual targets. Instead of using a high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead like other anti-tank missiles, LOSAT employed a solid steel kinetic energy penetrator to punch through armor. The LOSAT is fairly light; it was designed to be mounted onto a Humvee light military vehicle while allowing the vehicle to remain air-portable. LOSAT eventually emerged on an extended-length heavy-duty Humvee with a hard-top containing four KEMs used by special operations. Although LOSAT never "officially" entered service, it was used for the smaller Compact Kinetic Energy Missile.[2]
History
[edit]HVM
[edit]LOSAT developed out of an earlier Vought project, the Hyper-Velocity Missile. The HVM was a multi-platform weapon supported by the US Air Force, for the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, and by the US Army and US Marine Corps for helicopters and other vehicles. The HVM offered performance similar to existing systems like the AGM-114 Hellfire, but offered a semi-fire-and-forget operation through the use of forward-looking infrared tracking, and guidance commands sent to it via a low-power laser. It could be carried on any platform that had FLIR capability, with the self-contained command guidance system able to be carried externally or potentially integrated into existing target designators. With the end of the Cold War, the Air Force pulled out of the project, and HVM development work appears to have ended in the late 1980s.
AAWS-H
[edit]At about the same time, in 1988, the Army released a new requirement for a ground-based anti-tank system, known as Advanced Anti-Tank Weapon System - Heavy, or AAWS-H for short.[3] AAWS-H specified an air-liftable lightweight system with the capability to knock out any existing or near-future tank outside its own gun range. The TOW missile could be guided from concealed locations, but did not offer the needed range and its relatively slow flight speeds (~250 m/s versus 1650 m/s for HVM) left it vulnerable to counterattack from the target while the missile was in flight.
To fill AAWS-H, Vought developed a slightly larger extended-range version of HVM known as Kinetic Energy Missile (KEM), while its partner, Texas Instruments, provided a new FLIR targeting system that it was already working on as a TOW upgrade. Several vehicles were studied to mount the system, including the front-runner M2 Bradley,[4] as well as the M8 Armored Gun System.[5] However, in order to reduce costs and improve air mobility in a post–Cold War world, LOSAT eventually emerged on an extended-length heavy-duty Humvee with a hard-top containing four KEMs ready to fire, along with a trailer containing another eight rounds in two-round packs. The new guidance system could keep two missiles in flight to separate targets, allowing the vehicle to salvo fire its weapons against a tank squadron in a few seconds.[3] Reaching speeds of 1,500 m/s (5,000 ft/s), LOSAT was in the air from launch to maximum range for under four seconds, making counterfire extremely difficult. The range was beyond that of existing main tank guns, allowing the LOSAT to fire and move before tanks could maneuver into a position to return fire.
The first KEMs were test fired in 1990, and a contract for continued development was placed by the Army. This was much slower in pace, and it was only in 1997 that an Advanced Technology Concept Demonstrator program started to bring the system to production quality. The contract called for 12 LOSAT vehicles and 144 KEMs, to be delivered by 2003. Even before this contract was complete, the Army asked for a production run of another 108 missiles in August 2002.[2] The first of the 12 LOSAT units was delivered in October 2002, and the system began a series of 18 production-qualification test firings in August 2003, at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. By March 2004, 18 KEMs had been fired at targets under a variety of conditions, both during the day and night. Another 8 were fired in the summer of 2004 at Fort Bliss as part of a user-testing exercise.
Cancellation
[edit]By the time the test program was finished it was obvious the Army was going to cancel LOSAT after the low-rate initial production (LRIP) batch of about 435 missiles was delivered.[3] By this point the Army had already started work on a system known as the Compact Kinetic Energy Missile (or CKEM), based on the LOSAT concepts but smaller and lighter, more in tune with real-world threats. As it turned out, even the LRIP contract was never funded, and the LOSAT program terminated.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Foss, Christopher F, ed. (1996). "Tank Destroyers". Jane's Armour and Artillery 1996–97 (17th ed.). Surrey: Janes Information Group. p. 546. ISBN 978-0-71061-374-5.
- ^ a b "LOSAT Line-of-Sight Anti-Tank Weapon".
- ^ a b c "Lockheed Martin MGM-166 LOSAT/KEM". www.designation-systems.net.
- ^ "LIGHT AND LETHAL: Line-of-Sight, Anti-Tank (LOSAT)". Military.com.
- ^ "M8 Buford Armored Gun System". www.globalsecurity.org.
External links
[edit]MGM-166 LOSAT
View on GrokipediaOverview
Description
The MGM-166 LOSAT (Line-of-Sight Anti-Tank) is a guided missile system designed by Lockheed Martin—originally developed by Vought Systems—for the U.S. Army to neutralize armored vehicles through hypervelocity kinetic impact, eschewing traditional explosive warheads in favor of direct kinetic destruction.[3][2] This line-of-sight anti-tank system uses command guidance via the fire control system, where operators acquire and track targets using forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and television sensors, enabling effective engagement from ground vehicles.[1] At its core, the LOSAT utilizes hit-to-kill technology featuring a solid tungsten long-rod penetrator that accelerates to speeds exceeding 1,500 m/s upon launch, relying entirely on kinetic energy to breach and disable heavily armored threats by sheer momentum and impact force.[1][2] The missile's design emphasizes rapid transit to the target, achieving maximum range in under five seconds while delivering penetrating power comparable to or surpassing conventional tank rounds.[2] As a mobile, long-range anti-armor solution tailored for light and rapid-deployment forces, the LOSAT provides engagement capabilities beyond the effective range of contemporary tank main guns, such as over 4 km, enhancing standoff protection against massed armored advances.[1] Development of the system occurred from the late 1980s through the early 2000s, evolving from precursor efforts like the Hypervelocity Missile (HVM) program.[4]Development Context
In the late Cold War period, the U.S. Army faced evolving threats from heavily armored Soviet tanks, prompting a doctrinal shift toward more agile, lighter forces capable of rapid deployment without dependence on cumbersome heavy artillery or fixed defenses.[1] This transition accelerated in the early post-Cold War era, as the Army emphasized expeditionary operations requiring standoff anti-armor systems to neutralize armored threats at extended ranges while maintaining mobility for light divisions and early-entry forces.[3] The LOSAT program emerged from this context to provide a hypervelocity kinetic energy solution that could deliver overwhelming lethality against projected armored targets through 2020, supporting maneuver units in high-threat environments.[2] Key requirements drove the program's inception, including the ability to engage multiple targets beyond 3-4 km with rapid salvo fire, enabling quick suppression of enemy armor during dynamic airborne and air-assault operations.[3] Unlike traditional systems reliant on explosive warheads, LOSAT prioritized line-of-sight engagements at speeds exceeding 5,000 ft/s, ensuring time-to-target under 5 seconds and penetration far superior to conventional tank rounds.[1] This capability was essential for light forces operating in contested areas, where vulnerability to counterfire demanded weapons that could outrange and outpace adversary responses.[2] To enhance deployability, the system was designed for integration with existing platforms like the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), allowing rapid road transport, airdrop via C-130, or sling-load by UH-60 helicopters, thus filling critical gaps in legacy anti-tank missiles such as the TOW, which suffered from shorter effective ranges and slower flight times.[1][3] The HMMWV-mounted configuration supported a three-person crew and carried four ready-to-fire missiles, with additional resupply via trailer, prioritizing airliftability for contingency operations.[1] Designated an Army Acquisition Category I (ACAT I) program in the late 1980s, LOSAT received initial oversight from the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, reflecting its strategic priority amid budget constraints.[1] Advancements in kinetic energy penetrators, drawn from parallel efforts like the Armored Gun System, informed the missile's long-rod design, leveraging high-velocity impacts for armor defeat without explosives.[1] This foundational work positioned LOSAT as a bridge between Cold War-era heavy systems and the lighter, more versatile anti-armor needs of the 1990s.[2]History
Hypervelocity Missile Program
The Hypervelocity Missile (HVM) program was initiated in late 1981 when the U.S. Air Force awarded a contract to Vought (later LTV) to develop a guided anti-armor missile relying on kinetic energy for target defeat, rather than traditional explosive warheads.[5] This effort aimed to create a versatile, low-cost weapon capable of penetrating advanced Soviet tank armor through high-velocity impacts, with initial concepts envisioning multi-platform integration across air and ground launchers.[5] By October 1984, the program had expanded into a joint U.S. Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps initiative, focusing on proof-of-concept demonstrations for air-to-ground applications.[5] Early development emphasized integration on fixed-wing aircraft such as the A-10 Thunderbolt II, where the missile was designed to launch from underwing rocket pods, alongside explorations of surface-launched variants for broader tactical flexibility.[5] Key experiments centered on solid-fueled rocket propulsion to propel the missile to velocities of approximately 1,500 m/s (Mach 4.4), enabling non-explosive kinetic penetrators—dense metal rods intended to simulate and validate anti-tank impacts through sheer momentum and penetration.[5] These tests, conducted primarily at White Sands Missile Range from 1982 to 1989, validated the hit-to-kill mechanism using heavy metal penetrator designs, laying foundational data for hypervelocity anti-armor concepts. The HVM program was terminated in the late 1980s, with the Air Force's air-launched variant cancelled around 1987-1989 as shifting defense priorities refocused resources.[5] Despite the cancellation, core technologies such as the kinetic penetrator rod designs—incorporating high-density materials like tungsten for enhanced armor defeat—were retained for potential reuse in future anti-armor systems.[6] This preservation facilitated the transition of HVM assets, test data, and propulsion concepts to ground-based applications, influencing subsequent dedicated anti-tank missile developments in the post-Cold War era.[5]AAWS-H Initiative
In 1988, the U.S. Army established the Advanced Anti-Tank Weapon System - Heavy (AAWS-H) requirement to develop a next-generation heavy anti-tank capability capable of stand-off engagement against advanced armored threats, utilizing line-of-sight guidance for direct-fire precision.[7][2] The program emphasized lightweight, air-transportable launch platforms suitable for rapid deployment at the brigade level, building on prior hypervelocity missile technology to enable operation in day, night, and adverse weather conditions.[7] This initiative aimed to replace aging systems like the M901 Improved TOW Vehicle with a more mobile and lethal solution.[2] Development contracts under AAWS-H were awarded to LTV (later acquired by Lockheed Martin as Loral Vought Systems) as the primary missile developer, with Texas Instruments selected for integration of a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and television sensor package to support targeting.[2][4] The focus centered on vehicle-mounted configurations, particularly adaptations for high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs), to ensure compatibility with light forces while maintaining a kinetic energy missile's hypervelocity profile for armor defeat.[2] These efforts advanced the program's proof-of-principle phase toward full-scale engineering development.[7] By 1992, fiscal constraints and technical hurdles with propulsion and warhead elements led to a restructuring of AAWS-H into a Technology Demonstration program, prioritizing maturation of core technologies over immediate engineering and manufacturing development.[8][2] The program was terminated in 1996 due to ongoing budget constraints.[2] This shift included subscale testing of kinetic energy penetrator concepts to validate lethality against simulated armored targets, allowing the Army to retain viable options amid budget reductions without committing to full production.[8][4] A significant milestone occurred in June 1990 with live-fire demonstrations of the kinetic energy missile at White Sands Missile Range, where initial test flights confirmed hypervelocity performance exceeding 5,000 feet per second for effective hit-to-kill engagements.[2][3] These tests, conducted by Vought Systems, successfully demonstrated flight stability and target acquisition but revealed integration challenges, such as platform stability and sensor alignment on HMMWV mounts during high-speed launches.[3][4]Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration
In late 1997, following an appeal by the U.S. Army, the LOSAT program was reinstated as an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) to further mature the system for potential operational use.[9] This revival built briefly on the technology base established during the earlier AAWS-H initiative. In April 1998, Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract valued at approximately $180 million to develop and produce hardware under the ACTD, including 12 demonstration fire units and 144 Kinetic Energy Missiles (KEMs) for delivery by 2003.[10][3] The ACTD phase emphasized full system integration to demonstrate mobility and lethality for light forces. The launch platform utilized a modified M1114 Up-Armored HMMWV chassis for enhanced payload capacity and air-transportability via C-130 or larger aircraft, with a stabilized turret mounting a pod launcher capable of holding four ready-to-fire missiles.[9] A dedicated resupply trailer provided eight additional rounds, enabling quick reloads in the field and supporting sustained operations.[11] These components were designed for rapid deployment, allowing the system to set up in under five minutes and engage threats from concealed positions.[2] By 2002, the missile received its official designation as the MGM-166A, signifying a shift from prototype demonstrator to a configuration suitable for low-rate production evaluation.[12] Operational concepts refined during the ACTD targeted a crew of two to three personnel, focusing on high-tempo engagements such as salvo firing two missiles at separate targets in rapid sequence to overwhelm armored threats.[13] The system incorporated digitized interfaces for compatibility with networked battle management tools like the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2), enabling shared situational awareness and coordinated fires within brigade-level operations.[9]Testing and Initial Fielding
In August 2002, Lockheed Martin was awarded a $9.3 million low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract for 108 MGM-166A missiles, marking the first full production run of the kinetic energy missile system.[2] Deliveries of these missiles began in July 2004 to A Company, 5th Battalion, 11th Infantry (Airborne), 82nd Airborne Division, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, equipping the Army's inaugural tactical LOSAT unit with 12 HMMWV-based fire units derived from the earlier Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration hardware.[1] This initial fielding served as a limited capability experiment for airborne forces, focusing on integration into light infantry operations without any subsequent combat deployments.[1] Developmental testing commenced in June 2003 and culminated successfully in March 2004 at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, under the oversight of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command. The tests involved 18 firings that confirmed the system's hit-to-kill accuracy against moving armored targets, including M-60 tanks simulating T-72 equivalents, at ranges up to 5 kilometers, with penetration sufficient to defeat heavy armor through hypervelocity impact alone.[2] Flight times to maximum range were under 5 seconds at speeds exceeding 1,500 m/s, validating the missile's rapid transit and minimal exposure window for countermeasures.[2] Live-fire evaluations during this period highlighted the LOSAT's strengths in rapid sequential engagement, with the fire control system capable of tracking up to three targets via its FLIR/TV sensor and engaging two in under 10 seconds through automated guidance updates.[1] However, assessments also identified vulnerabilities in the open-mounted HMMWV configuration, including limited crew protection against return fire and blast effects due to the emphasis on airmobile sling-load compatibility, prompting ongoing Live Fire Test and Evaluation to quantify survivability risks.[1] Initial operator training emphasized both autonomous lock-on modes for quick acquisition and command-guided laser beam-riding for precision adjustments, enabling squads to integrate the system into airborne maneuver tactics.[1]Design
Kinetic Energy Missile
The MGM-166A kinetic energy missile, the primary munition of the Line-of-Sight Anti-Tank (LOSAT) system, featured a compact, aerodynamic design optimized for hypervelocity flight and direct impact lethality. Measuring 2.85 meters in length and 16.2 centimeters in diameter, the missile weighed approximately 80 kilograms and incorporated a long-rod tungsten penetrator as its core kill element, eschewing any explosive warhead in favor of pure kinetic destruction.[2][1] The penetrator was housed within a fin-stabilized airframe.[2] Propulsion was provided by a solid-fueled rocket motor that rapidly accelerated the missile to a velocity of 1,500 meters per second (5,000 feet per second), achieving this speed in mere seconds after launch. This hypervelocity imparted kinetic energy calculated via the principle , where the missile's mass and extreme speed resulted in approximately five times the energy of conventional tank-fired kinetic rounds, enabling it to overwhelm armored targets through sheer momentum.[2][1] The design emphasized simplicity and reliability, with the rocket motor burning out quickly to minimize exposure time in flight. Guidance employed a line-of-sight beam-riding system utilizing an infrared laser from the launch platform's fire control unit, providing real-time path corrections without requiring an onboard seeker. This command-link approach allowed the missile to maintain direct alignment with the target, achieving engagement times under four seconds to maximum range and supporting salvo fire against multiple threats.[1][14] The missile's lethality stemmed from its penetrator's ability to defeat advanced armor protections, including reactive and spaced arrays, by penetrating at hypersonic speeds that disrupted explosive countermeasures before impact. Upon striking the target, the tungsten rod's immense kinetic force caused catastrophic structural failure, often with secondary fragmentation effects enhancing damage to vehicle components and crew.[1][14] This hit-to-kill mechanism proved highly effective in demonstrations against simulated armored threats, prioritizing armor defeat over area effects.[1]Launch Platform
The MGM-166 LOSAT system was deployed from a modified High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), specifically the M1114 up-armored variant with an expanded chassis to accommodate the launcher and crew accommodations. This configuration included a hard-top enclosure that offered limited ballistic protection for the three-person crew (operable by two) and the missile pod, balancing deployability with vulnerability to direct threats.[1][3] The launcher featured two two-pack containers holding four ready-to-fire missiles in an elevated mounting, supplemented by a towed resupply trailer carrying eight additional missiles for a total onboard capacity of 12. This setup allowed for rapid engagement while enabling logistical support in mobile operations.[1][2] Mobility was a core design priority, with the HMMWV-based platform achieving a top road speed of approximately 100 km/h and full air-transportability, including two vehicles per C-130 aircraft or sling-load under UH-60L/CH-47 helicopters, making it suitable for light infantry and airborne units requiring quick repositioning.[1][3] Reload involved swapping missile canisters from the trailer using onboard handling equipment, enabling the crew to restore full combat readiness to sustain defensive firing positions.[1]Fire Control and Sensors
The fire control system (FCS) of the MGM-166 LOSAT was an integrated digital processor derived from the Improved Bradley Acquisition Subsystem (IBAS), enabling target acquisition, missile tracking, and salvo coordination.[3][1] It supported manual designation by the gunner or networked operations through integration with the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) system for shared situational awareness and cueing from other platforms via digital or FM communications.[1] The FCS incorporated a carbon dioxide laser rangefinder for precise ranging and dual trackers that allowed simultaneous engagement of up to two or three targets, with automatic launch and guidance following gunner consent.[3][2][1] Sensors for the LOSAT included a second-generation forward-looking infrared (FLIR) imager combined with a daylight television (TV) camera, providing day/night target acquisition and video overlay for enhanced operator visibility.[1][3][2] Mounted on the launch platform, the FLIR featured a thermal imager with a 480 x 4 focal plane array, enabling the gunner to detect and designate threats at extended ranges while the system auto-tracked for stable aiming.[3] The sensor suite was stabilized to support operations from the mobile HMMWV platform, contributing to the overall line-of-sight guidance by feeding real-time data to the FCS.[1] The operator interface was housed within the HMMWV cab, utilizing displays and controls for a crew of three—typically a commander, gunner, and driver—though operable by two in some configurations.[1][3] The gunner employed joystick-like controls and multi-function displays to select targets via the FLIR/TV feed, designate up to two for ripple fire, and monitor missile flight, with the entire acquisition-to-launch sequence completable in seconds.[2][3] The LOSAT's command guidance scheme, using inertial navigation with continuous updates from the vehicle's targeting system, provided inherent resistance to certain countermeasures, as it did not rely on infrared seekers vulnerable to jamming.[1][3] This design allowed effective operation in obscured environments like smoke, where the high-velocity kinetic penetrator's momentum minimized the impact of decoys or short-range defenses.[2]Specifications
Missile Characteristics
The MGM-166A LOSAT missile features the following key physical and operational parameters.| Characteristic | Specification |
|---|---|
| Length | 2.85 m (113 in)[2][1] |
| Diameter | 16.2 cm (6.4 in)[2][1] |
| Weight | 80 kg (177 lb)[2][3] |
| Propulsion | Solid rocket motor, fin-stabilized flight[3][2] |
| Warhead | Kinetic energy penetrator (tungsten rod, no explosives)[1][3] |
| Guidance | Inertial with command updates from fire control system[2][3] |
