Lockheed Martin says it has conducted a successful operator-in-the-loop flight test of the Low-Cost Autonomous Attack System at Eglin AFB, Fla. LOCAAS is an autonomous, wide-area search miniature munition that is equipped with laser radar seeker. Launched from a King Air 200 and flying more than 40 nautical miles in 15 minutes, the weapon used its laser radar seeker to search, identify, and report on targets in a planned mission search area. The Air Force Research Lab’s munitions directorate oversees the testing and provide a “flight-rated operator.” Lockheed says that LOCASS has flown five successful flights, one of which featured a live warhead.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
