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.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…