REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (Sept. 3, 2015) -- The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center transferred the first prototype of the Multi-Mission Launcher today.
Community leaders, military personnel, business partners, along with the MML team gathered for the event at the Software Engineering Directorate to transfer the prototype to the Program Executive Office, Missiles and Space. This is the first development of a major acquisition program by the government in more than 30 years.
"Technical excellence is about AMRDEC working in partnership with the industry team in collaborative fashion to make sure we add the ultimate end value to the Soldier," said James Lackey, AMRDEC director. "Affordability focus is demonstrated in how we executed this program in the last 18 months on cost and on schedule."
The collaboration is part of the larger U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command effort to synchronize and integrate portfolios across other research, development and engineering centers in a system of systems context, Lackey told the audience.
"This project is an example of innovation at its best. It showcases the ultimate support of the Army Mission," Lackey said.
The MML program is part of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept U.S. Army program. IFPC Inc 2-I system is a mobile ground-based weapon system designed to defeat unmanned aircraft systems, cruise missiles, and rockets, artillery, and mortars.
"This is a Hooah kind of day," said Brig. Gen. (Promotable) L. Neil Thurgood, PEO MS. "It is a great day to look at dynamic historical events that will change how we fight our air defense systems for our Army in the future.
"For the first time we can put a piece of equipment in the field that can shoot more than one bullet. That capability will allow us to reach out further and protect our troops at a greater distance and it will allow us to optimize how we do that on the battle space."
The MML is mounted on a medium tactical truck. The launcher can rotate 360 degrees and elevate from 0 to 90 degrees. It consists of 15 tubes, each of which can hold either a single large interceptor or multiple smaller interceptors.
Developed using an open systems architecture, the launcher will interface to the IBCS Engagement Operations Center via radio. The truck will also pull a trailer that has a missile data link to communicate to interceptors in-flight, and an Army standard 60 kW generator to power the system while emplaced.
The ceremony concluded with Lackey presenting a ceremonial key to Thurgood, who drove the tactical truck out of the high bay.
The launchers will demonstrate a Technology Readiness Level 6 at the Engineering Demonstration to be held at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, in March 2016. AMRDEC will provide eight additional MMLs through the Engineering and Manufacturing Development acquisition phase, six of which will be assembled by Letterkenny Army Depot in Pennsylvania.
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The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to ensure decisive overmatch for unified land operations to empower the Army, the joint warfighter and our nation. RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
The PEO Missiles and Space provides centralized management for all Army air and missile defense and tactical missile programs as well as selected Army Space programs. The PEO is responsible for the full life-cycle management of assigned programs.
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