LM announces new rocket guidance kit

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. firm Lockheed Martin Wednesday announced its new DAGR laser rocket guidance kit targeting system.

Lockheed Martin described the DAGR as "a system developed with company funding to defeat targets close to civilian assets and friendly forces due to its precise accuracy and ability to minimize collateral damage."

"DAGR is a semi-active laser guidance kit that adapts to 2.75-inch/70mm rockets to provide guided-rocket performance comparable to that of the precision-strike laser-guided HELLFIRE II missile," the company said.

“Lockheed Martin has committed substantial resources to this in-house development program to make this flexible new system available to our customers,” said Rick Edwards, vice president of Tactical Missiles at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “We’ve leveraged existing HELLFIRE and Joint Common Missile technology to bring to market a precision weapon system that will dramatically assist in the Global War on Terror.”

Lockheed Martin said its DAGR guidance kit "provides 2.75-inch/70mm rockets, such as the Hydra-70 and CRV-7, lock-on-after-launch and lock-on-before-launch capability, target handoff, enhanced built-in test and laser coding from the cockpit. DAGR’s off-axis capability also increases the engagement envelope, providing additional field of view for angle of attack, moving targets and wind."

“We’re very excited to offer the DAGR system to our HELLFIRE customers,” said Doug Terrell, director of International Business Development at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Nations employing the combat-proven HELLFIRE are provided maximum operational flexibility by the semi-active laser seeker HELLFIRE and its four warheads."

"As the latest addition to Lockheed Martin’s semi-active laser seeker family, DAGR complements the HELLFIRE II system by providing the same precision-strike capability in a 2.75-inch/70mm package against targets that do not require the full effect of HELLFIRE,” Terrell said.