Lockheed demonstrates new rocket

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ORLANDO, Fla., May 8 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin's Direct Attack Guided Rocket has been proving its capability during live-fire testing from helicopters at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.

In its latest demonstration, the rocket hit a moving target from a distance of more than 2 miles, the company said.

"DAGR hit a moving target from 3.5 kilometers (about 2.17 miles)," said Hady Mourad, DAGR program director in Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control business. "Defeating high-value targets on the move is a critical capability, and demonstrating this ability is a significant milestone for the precision-strike DAGR."

The target, a truck, was moving at a speed of 25 miles per hour when the rocket was fired from an AH-64D Apache flying in high wind. The aircraft's lock-on-before-launch targeting mode was used.

In another test, using the lock-on-after-launch targeting mode, the rocket hit its target from a distance of about 3 miles.

Lockheed said in four tests the projectile struck within 3 yards of the targeted laser spot.

The DAGR takes advantage of HELLFIRE II technology, integrating the 10-pound rocket into a 2.75-inch module.