MGM-140 ATACMS
The MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATacMS) is a surface-to-surface missile (SSM), range over 100 miles, with solid propellant, 13 feet height and 24 inches diameter, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. It has some variations in munition payload and range:
- The Block I (MGM-140A) missile contains 950 M74 anti-personnel/anti-materiel (APAM) submunitions with a range of 128 km.
- The Block IA (MGM-140B) missile contains 275 M74 submunitions and a greater range than the Block I.[1]
The ATACMS can be fired from MLRS launchers, including the M270, M270 IPDS, M270A1, and HIMARS. An ATACMS launch container has a lid patterned with six circles like a standard MLRS rocket lid.
The first use of the ATACMS in a combat capability was during Operation Desert Storm, where a total of 9,660 rockets were fired from the M270 MLRS. [Source, DoD, Conduct of the Persian Gulf War", April 1992, p. 753.]
During the Operation Iraqi Freedom more than 450 missiles were fired.[2]
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[edit] MGM-164 ATacMS - Block II
A Block II variant (initially designated MGM-140C) was designed to carry a payload of 13 Brilliant Anti-Tank (BAT) munitions manufactured by Northrop Grumman. However, in late 2003 the U.S. Army terminated the funding for the BAT-equipped ATACMS and therefore the MGM-164A never became fully operational.[3]
[edit] MGM-168 ATacMS - Block IVA
Originally designated Block IA Unitary (MGM-140E) the new Block IVA variant was designed to carry a 500 lb unitary HE warhead instead of the M74 bomblets. It uses the same GPS/INS guidance as the MGM-140B. The development contract was placed in December 2000, and flight-testing began in April 2001. The first production contract was awarded in March 2002.[4]
[edit] Foreign sales
In 2002 the South Korean Army purchased 111 ATACMS Block I and 110 ATACMS Block IA missiles, which were deployed in 2004. An affiliated company of the Hanwha Group of Korea produces munitions for the missile systems under a license from Lockheed Martin.[5]
On 20 December 2010, Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract for $916 million for 226 'tactical missiles' and 24 launcher modification kits for the UAE and Taiwan.[6]
Bahrain,[7] Greece[8] and Turkey[9] are also known users of the ATACMS.[10][11]
[edit] See also
[edit] Comparable missiles
[edit] References
- ^ "Lockheed Martin (LTV) MGM-140 ATACMS". Designation-Systems.net. http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-140.html. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ^ "Lockheed Martin - Army Tactical Missile System". Lockheed Martin. 2006. http://www.lockheedmartin.com/data/assets/12818.pdf.
- ^ "Lockheed Martin MGM-164 ATACMS II". Designation-Systems.net. http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-164.html. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ^ "Lockheed Martin MGM-168 ATACMS IVA". Designation-Systems.net. http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-168.html. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ^ "ROK: Army Tactical Missile System (Army TACMS)". GlobalSecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/atacms.htm. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ^ "Contracts for Thursday, December 23, 2010". U.S. Department of Defense. http://www.defense.gov/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=4436. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ^ "Bahrain Purchases Lockheed Martin's ATACMS Missiles". Lockheed Martin. 20 December 2000. http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2000/BahrainPurchasesLockheedMartinSATAC.html.
- ^ "Greece". Lockheed Martin. http://www.lockheedmartin.com/europe/greece/. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ^ "Turkey". Lockheed Martin. http://www.lockheedmartin.com/europe/turkey/. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ^ "Lockheed Martin Successfully Validates ATACMS Missile Long-Term Reliability". Lockheed Martin. 26 February 2009. http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2009/MFC_022609_LockheedMartinsSuccessfully.html.
- ^ "MGM-140A Block 1". MissileThreat.com. http://www.missilethreat.com/missilesoftheworld/id.73/missile_detail.asp. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
[edit] External links
- ATACMS Long-Range Precision Tactical Missile System Lockheed Martin (2011)
- Army Tactical Missile System Block IA Unitary Lockheed Martin. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- Precision Guided Missiles and Rockets Program Review U.S. Defense Technical Information Center (14 April 2008).
- ATACMS / ATACMS Block IA Unitary Deagel.com. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- M39 ATMS GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- M39 Army Tactical Missile System (Army TACMS) Federation of American Scientists | FAS.org. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
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