Army completes second test firing of Multi-Mission Launcher program

By Bill Crawford, AMRDEC Public AffairsMarch 25, 2015

Multi-Mission Launcher
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. (Mar. 23, 2015) -- The Army successfully completed a launch demonstration of three missile launches from the Multi-Mission Launcher Launch Demonstration Unit.

The Army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept Product Office conducted the launches with support from the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center.

The three missile launches included an Air Intercept Missile 9-X that intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle after launch. A Low Cost Active Seeker and a Mini Hit-to-Kill interceptor were also successfully launched and flew ballistic trajectories.

The successful firing of the missiles served to verify the tube integrity and missile stack integration of the MML. The IFPC Inc 2-I program remains on schedule to conduct an engineering demonstration in March 2016.

The AMRDEC MML Program is designing, fabricating and will deliver two MML prototypes for integration into the IFPC Inc 2-I system during the technology maturation and risk reduction phase of development. The MML is a next generation air defense launcher that is built on open system architecture and will have the capability to launch a variety of interceptors for comprehensive air defense against a variety of unmanned and cruise missile threats.

The Army plans to field the system in 2019.

"This, yet again, demonstrates a positive step forward for the MML," said James Lackey, AMRDEC Director. "MML will be critical in providing expanded ground troop area protection capabilities by enabling kinetic kill lethality effects against a variety of advanced, airborne incoming threats.

"I am very proud of the AMRDEC Team for keeping the focus and solidly executing requirements to both affordable cost and efficient schedule," Lackey added.

The unique government-to-government relationship between the IFPC Inc 2-I Program and the MML Program is on schedule and on budget to deliver two prototypes for use in the engineering demonstration.

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AMRDEC is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command which has the mission to develop technology and engineering solutions for America's Soldiers. AMRDEC employs nearly 11,000 civilian scientists, researchers, and engineers.

RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. AMC is the Army's premier provider of materiel readiness -- technology, acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection, and sustainment -- to the total force, across the spectrum of joint military operations. If a Soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears it, eats it or communicates with it, AMC provides it.

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