ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 7 (UPI) -- A pneumatic cooling system by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. military's Joint Air-to-Ground Missile launcher has successfully completed testing.
The PCS is a small compressor and air filtration system that cools JAGM's imaging infrared sensor allowing the acquisition and tracking of targets while the missile is on the launcher.
Lockheed said the PCS design is based on the Pure Air Compression Technology system of its partner, Marotta Controls Inc., which is used to cool U.S. Navy AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles.
Marotta's M-PACT system is in full production and more than 1,000 systems have been delivered.
"The PCS is an important element of our JAGM system and we are pleased to announce we have completed a series of verification tests," said Hady Mourad, JAGM program director in Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control business.
"Our team has parlayed its experience, providing cooling solutions to U.S. Navy weapon systems into a mature and low-risk JAGM design that is ready to enter the next phase of the program."
Lockheed Martin said its cooled JAGM seeker can passively lock onto targets at greater range than an uncooled seeker and offers "superior target discrimination capability," especially in high humidity situations.
