Long-range projectile meets expectations

• Tweet

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 22 (UPI) -- BAE Systems' 155mm weapon for the U.S. Navy's Long-Range Land Attack Projectile program has successfully completed three live-fire qualification tests.

The tests took place at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and were conducted in collaboration with Lockheed Martin.

The LRLAP, effective against a variety of targets in multiple mission areas, is meant to provide U.S. military expeditionary forces with an affordable, ship-launched alternative to currently used missiles. It is guided by a global positioning system and inertial measurement unit for enhanced accuracy at ranges of more than 63 nautical miles.

The tests used tactical rocket motor preprogrammed in hot, ambient and cold temperatures and produced results that met or exceeded range, accuracy and lethality objectives.

"This was a critical step forward for the U.S. Navy's 155-mm LRLAP program," said Tom Pfenning, director of Precision Guided Munitions at BAE Systems. "BAE Systems continues to progress on track to fully qualify the 155-mm LRLAP in support of the deployment of the Advanced Gun System aboard the DDG 1000 (destroyer)."

Live-fire testing will continue until late this year, BAE Systems said.